Home › Vols in Pros
Parker named to Olympic team; Catchings, Lawson will have to wait
STORY TOOLS
More Vols in Pros
- Haynesworth raring to go for Titans
- Wells has setback with lower back injury
- Hannon joins 49ers' practice squad
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
Candace Parker’s childhood aspiration was fulfilled Saturday.
The former Tennessee Lady Vols star was one of a nine women’s basketball players named to the U.S. Olympic team. Parker, who has been a national team regular for two years, will be participating in her first Olympics this summer in Beijing.
“I can remember sitting on my couch watching the ’96 Olympics with tears in my eyes watching them get their medals and telling my mom and dad I was going to be there one day,’’ Parker said.
She was watching Los Angeles Sparks teammate Lisa Leslie, a three-time Gold Medalist who was named to the team. The other team members are Katie Smith, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson and fellow rookies Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Cappie Pondexter.
“I feel these nine individuals were no-brainers,’’ U.S. coach Anne Donovan said.
Three spots remain open on the 12-player roster, which will be finalized by July 1.
Former UT star Tamika Catchings, a member of the 2004 Gold Medal team, is a prime candidate, provided she’s recovered from a torn right Achilles’ tendon. She has yet to play this season for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever.
“She is moving along quickly with her rehab,’’ said Renee Brown, USA Basketball’s national team committee chair. “We understand she’ll be back on the floor by June. We want to watch that. We’re hoping like crazy it works out because she’ll be a great addition.”
Another former Lady Vol likely to receive strong consideration is guard Kara Lawson, who played on the U.S. team that qualified for the Olympics last August at the FIBA Americas tournament.
“We’re hoping to add a tough defensive stopper on the perimeter who can also score for us, as well as at least another post player,’’ Brown said.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- UT report card for UCLA
- Game film makes Fulmer madder
- Crompton suffered concussion in fourth quarter against UCLA
- It's a Hollywood disaster, but Fulmer says it's 'fixable'
- Craft ready to go 'all-out' for Pearl, Tennessee
- UT to play UConn in football (not women's basketball)
- Call into the Vol frustration line
- Next Bradshaw? UT gets commitment from combo guard Craft
- Strange: UT 0-3 in SEC by mid-October?
- Adams: Tony P's is SEC of West
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Posted by redstickvol on May 31, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about Chamique Holdsclaw?
Posted by DCSOvol on May 31, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She has retired and hasnt played for a while.
Posted by ncvol on May 31, 2008 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It just keeps getting better for Candice. I hope Tamika mends so she can be there,too. The Sparks won their game today. They played Washington Mystics.Go former Lady Vols...
Posted by orangeinga on May 31, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She isn't in the game anymore. She quit for personal reasons.
Posted by utvol008 on May 31, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to Candace!
She is having one heck of a year!
Posted by VolMama on June 1, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We were watching the game today, and I told my husband that it is great to be able to say that Candace Parker played for the Lady Vols. I think that she is not only a great ball player, but a great person also.
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on June 1, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We all knew Candace was good and getting better each year. When Coach Summitt said she was the "best she had ever coached", that sealed the deal for me. She is the greatest and wants to learn, work and get better ! How she is living up to all the media hype amazes me, talk about pressure. CANDACE, you go girl !!!
Our other Lady Vol rookies are doing great too--Lex & Nicky.
Posted by ncvol on June 1, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was on WNBA.com. We are so proud of you Candice and the other former Vols.
"It is Four games into her professional career and Candace Parker is already dwarfing the hype she had coming out of Tennessee. After notching the WNBA’s first ever five-by-five on Thursday, Parker racked up her third double-double of the season during the Sparks’ 70-59 win in Washington. She finished the afternoon with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go along with six assists and four blocks. "
Posted by 98reax on June 2, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Chamiqua is and has been playing abroad according to some sources. I'm thinking she may not be as reliable a team member as she once was. She seems to be struggling with things the public eye demands from her. She wants to stay hidden away and just play ball.
Those are totally my observations. I don't claim to be privy to that information. Just callin 'em like I sees 'em. For me, it is sad to be unable to watch her play. She was definitely one of my all time favorites in the game. It's a selfish thing to say, but we were robbed of a great talent when she retired from our viewing arena.
Unfortunately, life is more than basketball. A woman has to do what a woman has to do. I cannot imagine how good she would be right now, in her prime, had she stayed healthy and whole. Maybe that's what I'm seeing in Candace Parker.
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.