Candace Parker won both WNBA Rookie of the Year and WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2008.
Parker entered the WNBA as the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, selected by the Los Angeles Sparks. In her debut season, she became the first WNBA player to receive both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same year.
The achievement was especially notable because Parker was also adapting to professional basketball after a decorated college career at Tennessee. She had won two NCAA championships, in 2007 and 2008, and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player in both tournaments.
Parker later won a second WNBA MVP award in 2013 and championships with three franchises: the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, the Chicago Sky in 2021, and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023. Her 2026 Hall selection recognized a career that combined scoring, rebounding, defense, playmaking, and team success.