Net Worth Ranker
What Is Candace Parker’s Net Worth?
Candace Parker, a transformative figure in women’s basketball, boasts a net worth of $8 million. This valuation reflects her successful career as a player, complemented by lucrative endorsements and media ventures. While her WNBA salary was capped, Parker’s financial portfolio benefited significantly from overseas play and strategic partnerships with major brands.
Candace Parker’s Career Earnings and Endorsements
During her WNBA career, Candace Parker’s on-court earnings were relatively modest due to the league’s salary structure. In her early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, she earned approximately $115,000 per year. After the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, her salary increased to around $190,000 annually when she played for the Chicago Sky. Over her 15 WNBA seasons (2008-2022), her total league salary amounted to just over $1 million.
Overseas opportunities proved far more lucrative for Parker. She stated that her contracts in Russia, China, and Turkey paid “10–20 times” her WNBA salary, with top players earning well into the seven figures per season. These overseas stints became her primary income source, significantly exceeding her WNBA pay.
Parker’s marketability led to major endorsement deals throughout her career. Upon turning pro in 2008, she secured a multi-year Gatorade sponsorship and a multi-million-dollar shoe contract with Adidas. Her partnership with Adidas was particularly notable, as she earned her own “Ace” signature sneaker line, a rare honor for a female athlete.
Over the years, Parker’s endorsement portfolio expanded to include companies such as CarMax, Capital One, and 2K Sports. Her partnership with 2K Sports made her the first woman featured on an NBA 2K video game cover. It has been reported that her annual endorsement income alone surpassed her entire 15-year WNBA career salary total.
Candace Parker’s Real Estate Investments
In October 2013, Candace Parker and her then-husband, Shelden Williams, purchased a 7,000-square-foot mansion in Encino, California, for $3.56 million. They sold the home in November 2015 for the same price.
In January 2021, Parker acquired a newly built 6,300-square-foot modern farmhouse mansion in Tarzana, California, for $4 million. The home features five bedrooms, a large basement with a home theater, and a pool. As of today this home is likely worth around $5 million.
Candace Parker’s Early Life and College Stardom
Born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Parker’s basketball lineage runs deep. At Naperville Central High School, she won the Illinois State Championship and was named USA Today High School Player of the Year twice.
During her three seasons with the University of Tennessee Lady Vols (2005-2008), Parker led the team to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008. She received two John R. Wooden Awards as the most outstanding college basketball player. She became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game.
WNBA Dominance and Championships
Selected as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker became the first player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season. In 2016, she led the Sparks to the WNBA Championship and earned Finals MVP honors.
In 2021, Parker signed with the Chicago Sky and led the team to its first WNBA championship that same year. In 2023, Parker joined the Las Vegas Aces, adding to her legacy with another championship contender. She announced her retirement in 2024.
Throughout her WNBA career, Parker earned two MVP awards, seven All-Star selections, and multiple All-WNBA First Team honors.
International Career and Olympic Glory
Parker was a key contributor to the U.S. women’s Olympic teams that captured gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Media Career and Business Ventures
Parker has gained recognition as an NBA analyst for TNT and NBA TV. Her articulate analysis has made her a respected voice in basketball broadcasting.
Parker has cultivated longstanding relationships with major brands like Adidas and has invested in various business opportunities.
Personal Life and Advocacy
In 2008, Parker married former NBA player Sheldon Williams, and they divorced in 2016. In 2021, Parker married Anna Petrakova. Parker has been an advocate for gender equality in sports and has been involved in community initiatives focused on youth development and education.
