A grinding year-round basketball schedule has apparently taken its toll on Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker, as Parker announced that she will miss an undetermined number of games at the start of the 2015 season "in order to be 100% healthy before joining the team on the court."
In addition to playing for the Sparks and Team USA, Parker has played five WNBA offseasons with UMMC Ekaterinburg. The cumulative effect of all those miles has likely caused Parker to feel enough fatigue that she must now take a significant break from the game in order to recuperate.
“This was a decision Candace made that she felt was in the best interest of her health and in the best interest of the team,” said GM Penny Toler. “Our goal has always been to win another championship, and having a healthy and rested Candace Parker will undoubtedly help us down the stretch. We are confident in our returning core leaders, WNBA champions and international stars that will lead the Sparks. When Candace is ready, she will return to the court healthy and rested to help the Sparks in our quest to win the 2015 title.”
The Los Angeles Sparks tip-off their 2015 WNBA home schedule on Sunday, June 14 versus Seattle.
The first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker has played her entire seven-year career in Los Angeles. In 2008, she became the first WNBA player to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year award in the same season.
A two-time WNBA MVP (2008,2013), three-time WNBA All-Star (2011,2013,2014), including 2013 All-Star MVP, and a three-time All-WNBA First Team selection (2012,2013,2014), Parker has also won two Olympic Gold medals as a member of Team USA (2008, 2012).
Through 179 career games (176 starts) with the Sparks, she holds averages of 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 32.0 minutes per game. Among the league’s all-time leaders, she ranks 9th in scoring (17.7 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (9.0 rpg) and blocks (1.96 bpg). Last season, she led the Sparks in scoring (19.4 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and tied for second in rebounds, averaging 7.1 per game.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services
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