Candace Parker Speaks About the Intangibles of Her Game

Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky escaped Game 3 with a 76-72 victory over the Connecticut Sun, moving them one win away from a return to the WNBA Finals.

Parker had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists Sunday, recording his fifth double-double of the postseason and playing a key role in Chicago leading the series 2-1. The two-time MVP is averaging 16.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 46.3 percent from the field so far through the playoffs.

The 2016 Finals MVP held Connecticut to 27 percent (14-for-51) shooting, according to ESPN. The Tennessee native balks at the idea that she’s playing the best basketball, but she believes her younger self had an edge in the playoffs. Parker averaged career highs in rebounds, assists, and blocks during the playoffs.

Parker’s productivity increased even though the Sun’s physical style of play took Chicago out of its safe zone and sapped the defending champions’ offensive action. Parker became the first player in W’s history to post a stat line of 15/15/5/5 in a single playoff game this postseason. Her double-double on Sunday was her 27th career playoff double-double, tying her with Tamika Catchings for the most in WNBA playoff history.

Coach Kurt Miller, who was an assistant coach with the Spark in 2015 before taking over as Sun’s head coach, said Parker’s improvements in fitness, strength and intangibles at age 36 are “impressive.” “It was,” he said. Miller also said Parker “doesn’t play in the playoffs anymore,” adding, “It’s impressive to watch and I think it’s a huge credit to her work on fitness, nutrition, strength and conditioning.”

“Her fitness and strength and the intangibles she added late in her career are impressive,” Miller said. Per ESPN. “She wasn’t that healthy in 15 years, but she’s really healthy, she plays at a very high rate, she’s physical. She’s not going to stop playing anymore, and that’s impressive to watch. I think that’s a huge credit to her commitment to fitness, nutrition, strength and conditioning.”

At that point, Parker admitted that he changed his approach to staying in shape after his seasons were hampered by injuries in 2019 and 2021. She is currently prioritizing treatment and recovery (cold tub, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, yoga, Pilates).

She also strengthened her mental approach to the hardwood, which she believes has helped keep her at an elite level. Parker focuses on scouting reports to make sure he knows the trends of his opponents while coming up with strategies to get to his spot. Parker also definitely prepares himself late in games when he needs to take over or make clutch plays to solidify Chicago’s victory.

“We can still get there. It’s just going to be different,” Parker said. “I look at guys like [the NBA’s Nikola] Jovic and the slower players who get to their positions. how do they do it? It’s just like becoming a matchup master, and sometimes you have to slow down and understand what the defense is giving you during the game. ”

Chicago has a chance to win the series-clinching Game 4 and end the best-of-five semifinal series with a win over Connecticut on Tuesday.

“I just want to win a championship, because I like to win and this team likes to win,” Parker said. “I have nothing left to prove to myself and to the game. That’s not what I’m playing for.”