LOS ANGELES – Candace Parker, even in warm-ups, gathers a crowd.
Stretching her legs, Parker lifted one leg high, then the other. Fans watched nearby for a look at the player considered by many to be the best in college basketball.
Parker, eligible to leave for the WNBA draft following the season, had an opportunity to showcase her skills in the same city as the Los Angeles Sparks, owners of the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft.
I made the short drive from my Southern California home and took in the Tennessee women’s basketball team’s visit to Pauley Pavilion during the winter break and the Lady Vols’ match-up with UCLA.
Much can be made of inexperience in explaining a slow start and UCLA’s roster is dominated by youth with six freshmen and four sophomores. The veteran presence consists of senior Lindsey Pluimer, a low-post threat. The Bruins share much in common with Oregon’s team in that they are building around a core of young talent.
But for me, it was the opportunity to see Parker play in person. The same Parker who many consider the best women’s college basketball player in the country and the likely No. 1 pick of the Sparks in this year’s draft.
Sparks’ references were plentiful at the game with Lisa Leslie, the face of the franchise, sitting behind Tennessee’s bench, her baby, Lauren, on her lap. Multiple announcements across the loudspeaker hyped the upcoming Sparks season. Coach Michael Cooper sat near mid-court, general manager Penny Toler by his side.
No. 1 Tennessee made its trip a successful one with an 82-70 win Wednesday evening at Pauley Pavilion.
The 4,003 fans who came to see the 6-foot-4 budding star had to accept glimpses of the star’s potential. UCLA assigned Lindsey Pluimer and in the first half, Parker settled for outside jumpers and made 2 of 6 shots for four points.
She focused on going inside in the second half and ended the night with a team-high 17 points.
“I don’t think it was my best game, but we got the win and that’s what’s important,” Parker said. “In the first half I think I settled for outside jumpers too much, instead of going to the basket. When they’d got two players in the lane, sometimes you do that. But I have to adjust.”
It’s an adjustment Parker has to do often in a schedule filled with elite programs. Even then, most teams lack the size or quickness to match up with the versatile Parker, who is listed on Tennessee’s roster as a guard/forward/center.
She is equally adept at handling the constant media attention as she is at dealing with double teams on the court. Afterward, media questions focused on when she decides to dunk, whether she noticed the Sparks presence and whether she’ll return to Tennessee for her senior season or go pro.
“Honestly, I live day to day,” Parker said. “Nothing’s promised to be honest with you. I know. I’m living proof of it. I blew my knee out my senior year in high school and I blew my knee out again in my freshman year of college so nothing’s promised. I live day to day. If I’m blessed enough to go to the WNBA then so be it, but I’m just focused on (Tennessee) right now.”
Tennessee, then undefeated, lost its first and only game three days later at Stanford, and after seeing the way with which Parker impacts a game with just her presence, it’s hard to see them losing too much more – if at all.
“They are rated No. 1 in the country and they are very well-coached,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. “They have the best player in the country on their team and for being so young, I thought we did a great job for about 30 minutes of the game.”
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