Candace Parker Becomes First Female Basketball Player To Grace NBA 2K Cover
Written by Jay Holz on July 14, 2021
Candace Parker has just made history! The WNBA star has just become the first female hooper ever to grace the cover of NBA 2K.
“I grew up a video game fanatic, that’s what I did, to the point where my brothers would give me the fake controller when I was younger where I think I was playing and I wasn’t,” Parker said. “All I wanted to do was just be like them. As a kid growing up, you dream of having your own shoe and dream of being in a video game. Those are an athlete as a kid’s dreams. To be able to experience that, I don’t take it lightly.”
The Chicago Sky star said when she was just starting in the WNBA in 2008, she might not have appreciated it as much as she does now.
“I think when you’re young and experience these type of things, you’re onto the next thing,” she said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really savored the moment.”
She continues:
“I think it’s a benchmark of women’s basketball for sure. I think most importantly it speaks to visibility and how important it is and how important the WNBA is,” Parker said. “Everyone is looking at it that it’s impacting little girls, but it’s also impacting little boys and young men and young women and men and women. I think our game is different than the NBA; now it’s embracing that fact. Now more than ever, fans want to follow the athlete. Through social media, through video games, it’s adding and benefiting the WNBA.”
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic also has his own cover for 2K22. There’s also a 75th year anniversary edition featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki.
Congratulations to Candace and salute to NBA 2K for this decision.
