WNBA Legend Candace Parker Wants to Be Recognized For More Than Her Gender
*By Michael Teich*
WNBA star Candace Parker may be a female voice in a male-dominated sport, but the two-time MVP wants to be recognized for more than just her gender.
“I think it’s important because, obviously we watch basketball, and I feel like we’re knowledgeable about it as well," Parker said Thursday in an interview on Cheddar. "I don't know if it’s a female voice or just another opinion. I hope at some point in the transition it’s more of that ー a varying opinion as opposed to a different gender.
The Los Angeles Spark is taking her talents to the broadcast booth, signing on with Turner Sports as a NBA and NCAA basketball commentator.
Parker, who is entering her 11th season with the Sparks, will join the Players Only Studio team, dishing out her insights and analysis from an athlete's perspective.
She also weighed in on the future of the WNBA, whose former president Lisa Borders stepped down to take a new position as the first-ever CEO of [Time's Up]([http://www.nba.com/article/2018/10/02/wnba-president-lisa-borders-steps-down-president-times).
“Lisa was great with us," she said. "I’m partial, you know. We won a championship when she was president. I think she did a great job of balancing both players as well as owners and was a great leader, and I wish her the best. It's going to be hard replacing her, but I'm sure the WNBA will do the best they can.”
In 2018 Borders helped the WNBA score its most-watched season in four years, and in 2017 she led the league to its highest regular-season attendance since 2012.
Despite the WNBA's growth over the past few years, revenue and viewership is still dwarfed by that of the men's league. But the NBA had a decades-long head-start, according to Parker.
“I always talk about how young the league is. We’re 23 years young," she said. "The NBA was on tape delay in the 80s for the Finals match-up. So, if you can imagine the progress that they’ve made over the past 20-30 years. I think just give it time."
The six-time All Star is confident social media will help accelerate the WNBA's progress.
"The WNBA is going to be more visible, and you’re going to be able to get to know the players," she said.
"What do you fall in love with with the NBA? You fall in love with story lines and being able to know the players. It’s coming for the WNBA.”
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/wnba-legend-candace-parker-wants-to-be-recognized-for-more-than-her-gender).
Gabe Laques, MLB Editor & Reporter, USA Today Sports, joins Cheddar Bets to offer up his expert opinions on the start of baseball season.
Sponsored by BetMGM
Baseball is as American as — Apple TV+. The National Pasttime has a new media partner this season, as the MLB will be streaming Friday night doubleheaders on the Apple streaming service. Noah Garden, the league's chief revenue officer, spoke to Cheddar News to break down the details of what's being offered in the new package and why Major League Baseball felt the need to make the move this year. "We've been in a situation where we've lost reach, even within the cable bundle. There are situations where people in the local market don't have access to watch their favorite team and their local team on top of that," he said. "You have cord cutters and even probably more importantly, cord nevers. So streaming offers of some ability to gain reach that we've lost over the the last couple of years, and Apple was really the perfect partner for us."
The 2022 Masters Tournament is slated to begin on Thursday, and one of golf's most iconic players is set to return to Augusta National, just 14 months after a devastating car accident. In a press conference, Tiger Woods told reporters that not only is he planning to play in the tournament, but that he also thinks he can win. Cam Rogers, national sports betting and golf analyst, and host of 'Lock It In'
for the Bleav Podcast Network, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Carsten Koerl, CEO of Sportradar, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains how his company is bolstering the platforms of sports betting and streaming networks, and discusses basketball legend and Sportradar investor Michael Jordan's role in helping the company grow.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 4, 2022, with reports of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, a weekend shooting in Sacramento killing six and injuring 12, Mexico ending its gas subsidization for U.S. drivers, and the University of South Carolina winning the women's NCAA basketball championship, and more.
Between Bells EP Conor White recaps some of the biggest stories of the week, while Baker Machado and Hena Doba test their knowledge, and maybe learn a thing or two. It's This Week in Trivia!
David Salituro, MLB and PGA sportswriter for Fansided.com, joins Cheddar Bets to break down his favorite futures bets in the MLB and at The Masters.
Sponsored by BetMGM
For the first time in the history of the storied men's college basketball rivalry between Duke University and the University of North Carolina, the two teams will be meeting directly in the NCAA tournament — and in the Final Four! Sean Green, the co-founder of the Sports Gambling Podcast Network, joined Cheddar to give his take on the possible final game of legendary Duke coach, Mike Krzyzewski. "Now, if you recall, UNC actually beat Duke in Coach K's final home regular-season game, so revenge is going to be on the mind of Duke in this Final Four game, and I think they have the best of UNC. I like them laying four points," Green said. He also picked Villanova with an upset win over Kansas.
