Candace Parker entered UT in 2004 as a WBCA High School All-American and as the first female high school player and only the fifth female player at any level, to dunk a basketball in a sanctioned game. After taking a medical redshirt (torn ACL) her freshman year, she was the Southeastern Conference Rookie of the Year in 2005 and helped the Lady Vols win the 2006 SEC championship. She was the only college player named to the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil.
She continued her legend—dunking three times—and achieved her 1,000th point as a sophomore, in 56 games. She led the Lady Vols to their second straight national title (the eighth championship for Tennessee) and was named MVP for a second consecutive tournament. She was Naismith Award Winner; John Wooden Award winner (twice); ESPN.com’s Player of the Year for 2007–8; Wade Trophy winner; a Kodak All-American, and accumulated many other awards. She graduated from UT in 2008 with a degree in sport management and announced she would forego her senior season to concentrate on the 2008 Olympics and pursue a professional career. She was named University Division Academic All-American of the Year in women’s basketball for 2008 by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
She was on the 2008 Olympics Women’s Basketball Team that won a gold medal. She was the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft, by the Los Angeles Sparks, and continued the dunking legend, becoming the first WNBA player to dunk in consecutive games. She was twice named WNBA Most Valuable Player.
Her Lady Vols jersey was retired in January 2014.