As she began her third career WNBA Finals appearance on Sunday, VFL Candace Parker honored her late former coach and Tennessee legend, Pat Summitt, during the game.
On the tongue of Parker’s shoes, centered around two orange squares representing a checkerboard, read, “For Pat”. Holly Rowe, who was on the network coverage for ABC on Sunday, spoke to Parker in a short video that was posted to Twitter.
“Beautiful,” Rowe said while showing the lettering on the shoe. “She’s always right there with you, isn’t she?”
The video then zoomed out to show Parker on the court and in the whole frame.
As she walked up the court, Parker yelled back, “Always!”
For Pat…always. @Candace_Parker embarks on @WNBA Finals with her mentor close to her heart! @chicagosky pic.twitter.com/CQopbzFYJ6
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 10, 2021
During game one of the 2021 WNBA Finals, Parker’s Chicago Sky took down the Pheonix Mercury by a score of 91-77. VFL Candace Parker finished the game as the Sky’s third-leading scorer with 16 points. In addition, Parker was just shy of a double-double with eight rebounds in 34 minutes. The best-of-five series will return to the court on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. ET.
VFL and recent Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Tamika Catchings also gave a reaction to the social media post with an orange heart.
🧡 #ForPat #OALVALV https://t.co/lbpCXcxut8
— Tamika Catchings (@Catchin24) October 10, 2021
Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks won the WNBA Championship in 2016 but came just short of a repeat in 2017. Now, in her inaugural season with the Chicago Sky, she is leading her new team one step closer to a championship in Chicago.
In Game 1, Candace Parker was sure to bring her legendary coach, Pat Summitt, along for the ride.
And bring Summitt back to a championship basketball game.
