The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904, and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we must wait 3 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Holly Warlick about her fellow Hall of Famer Candace Parker’s time in Knoxville and the pair of gold medals she won in 2008/2012.
Candace was born in St. Louis, grew up in Illinois, and was named national high school POY in 2003/2004: what made her choose Tennessee? I think Pat Summit: simple as that. We gave her a chance to get better and play in front of a big crowd on a big stage…and she made it even bigger. Everything lined up for her to carry on the tradition here and she relished the opportunity.
In February of 2005 the school announced that she would be redshirting due to a knee injury she had suffered the previous summer: how bad was the injury, and how was she able to get back onto the court? It is hard to lose your star player, but it was also hard on her. Great athletes never want to sit out and wonder if they will ever play again at the same level they were at. Candace worked at her craft and went to rehab and did what she was supposed to do. It took commitment/training, and she was always willing to put in the hours. God gave her great athletic ability but what made her special is that she was in the gym a LOT every day outside of practice.
In March of 2006 she became the 1st woman to ever dunk in an NCAA tourney game: what was the reaction like when the crowd saw her dunk? Anytime they see a woman dunk they go nuts…and our bench went nuts as well! It is fun to watch because you do not get to see it too often, but she made it look easy.
In 2007 she was named national POY, won an NCAA title, and was named tourney MOP: how on earth was she able to do all of that again in 2008 despite suffering a dislocated shoulder in an 8-PT win over Texas A&M in the Elite 8? It is just her drive: she loves the game and tries to do everything with perfection. She had a lot of individual success but also found a way to bring her team in and play together with the goal of winning titles. She loved the team success/camaraderie: we had a talented team and when everyone has the same goal there is no jealousy.
In 2008 she was named D-1 Academic All-American of the Year: how was she able to balance her work on the court with her work in the classroom? Discipline. It was an expectation on our team that you would not miss class. She was disciplined on the court, and it carried over into the classroom.
The day after winning the 2008 title she was drafted 1st overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, and 6 months later she became the 1st WNBA player to be named ROY/MVP in the same season: how was she able to come in and dominate right from the start? Talent…but she does not settle on her talent: she takes it to the next level. She is driven and sets goals for herself and puts things in perspective. Her work ethic increased after she turned pro because it was her job and she took it very seriously.
She played for Team USA in the 2008/2012 Olympics: what did it mean to her to represent her country, and what did it mean to her to win a pair of gold medals? It was extremely important to her. She played with a lot of talented friends and anytime you can represent your country it is a tremendous honor/blessing.
In addition to all of her on-court success, she is the president of women’s basketball for Adidas, an analyst/commentator for the NBA/NCAA, and is part-owner of Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League: is there anything she does that surprises you, or is she just 1 of those people who succeeds at everything she does in life? What I love about Candace is that she is willing to sign autographs and has a kind heart and is excited when she comes back to campus. Not all players who have done what she has done will give back: she had a lot of help along the way and has put herself in position to make a difference for women’s basketball by helping others. It did not happen by chance: she has a good business mind and has done well for herself, but also wants to further the game.
She retired in 2024 as a 3-time WNBA champ/2-time WNBA MVP/2020 WNBA DPOY, and yesterday she was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: when people look back on her career, how do you think that she should be remembered the most? As 1 of the best players who ever put on a Lady Vols uniform. She gives back to the community and has represented herself with a great deal of pride/honor.
