Back in 2000, Candace Parker was already making waves in the AAU circuit in Naperville, Illinois, as a standout 14-year-old. Even at that age, scouts saw her as a generational talent, and many argued she could be the best women’s basketball prospect ever.
She lived up to the hype, becoming a WNBA legend with three championships and cementing her legacy as a two-time MVP. When asked about her biggest inspirations, Parker singled out Diana Taurasi as her favorite among the WNBA’s all-time greats.
Candace Parker Names the WNBA Greats Who Inspired Her the Most
Taurasi typically begins training each January, but at 42, she decided to step away from basketball for good. Before her retirement on February 25, 2025, she had built one of the most decorated careers in WNBA history. Her influence on the game is undeniable, and her legacy continues to shape how current players, including Parker, approach basketball.
“My GOATs are the people that inspired me and shaped my game, because I feel like the GOATs are usually the blueprint,” Parker said while speaking with Keyshawn Johnson. “To be honest with you, I think Ticha Penicheiro is one of the best point guards to ever play the game. She shaped how I viewed setting up teammates, and passing, and scoring, all that.”
Taurasi’s list of achievements is remarkable. She won three WNBA championships with the Phoenix Mercury, earned two Finals MVP awards, and was selected to 11 All-Star teams. Notably, she was named league MVP in 2009 while leading her team to a title.
Taurasi also holds the all-time records for most career points and most three-pointers made, with 1,447 from beyond the arc. These numbers highlight her fearless style of play, and Parker has acknowledged how confident and bold Taurasi was during her prime.
Diana Taurasi anuncia su retirada como jugadora profesional de baloncesto
Considerada, por muchos, la mejor jugadora de la historia de este deporte. Sin duda, LA LEYENDA.
Acaba una era, pero el legado es para siempre.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩. pic.twitter.com/lzNj1OlPVJ— Anaïs López (@anaislopez23) February 26, 2025
“I’ve gotta give it up to Diana Taurasi, who is one of the greats,” Parker added. “I remember playing her during her prime, and it was like, if you were late showing on a screen, it was a layup. You talk about logo 3s – we weren’t even allowed to take those shots, and Diana was like, no, shoot those shots.”
Parker also praised Thompson for her versatility and leadership, and credited Jackson as a pioneer of positionless basketball. “At the four, I shaped my game after Lauren Jackson. Lauren Jackson, to me, was positionless basketball before the Dirk Nowitzkis and all that stuff. Australian, came here at a young age, was able to stretch the floor with the shot, but also put it on the deck. She was a tough guard.”
On her personal Mount Rushmore of WNBA greats, Parker included Thompson and Jackson, but she singled out Taurasi as her top inspiration.
Taurasi’s dominance over two decades is especially impressive when you consider the gap between her and the next-highest scorer, Tina Charles, who trails her by thousands of points. At 39, Parker herself is now a legend whose perspective on the game is shaped by those who came before her.
