Former Tennessee women’s basketball star Candace Parker made basketball history last night when her Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty 70-69 to claim the WNBA Title. The Aces won the best of five series in four games to win the WNBA title.
Parker wasn’t on the court for the series after suffering a left foot injury in early July that ended her season. Despite not playing in the finals, Parker still gets a ring for being on Las Vegas. She also made history in the process.
Parker is the first player in WNBA history to win the championship with three different teams. Parker won the 2016 WNBA Finals with the Los Angeles Sparks and won the 2021 WNBA Finals with the Chicago Sky before being apart of the Aces’ 2023 championship.
More From RTI: Tennessee Trolls Texas A&M After Last Week’s Victory
The former Tennessee forward isn’t the only former Lady Vol to be apart of the Aces’ WNBA Championship. Former Tennessee women’s basketball guard and Oak Ridge native Nikki Fargas is the Las Vegas Aces’ President.
In 18 games before suffering her season ending injury, Parker averaged nine points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Parker is a complete player who does a myriad of things well on the court which has helped her remain an impactful player as she’s aged.
The 2023 WNBA season was Parker’s 15th after the Sparks drafted the Tennessee standout with the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
Parker turned pro after a three-year storied Tennessee tenure that saw her thrice earn All-American honors, twice earn Wooden Award Player of the Year honors and twice lead the Lady Vols to National Championships. In 18 years of college and professional basketball, Parker’s now won five total championships.
