At the top of her game, L.A. Sparks’ Candace Parker has more than just hoop shots to worry about. At 23, she’s a new mom who plans to return to the court after only six weeks of maternity leave.

This ESPY female athlete award nominee may be a young mom, but her career is already on track, to say the least. A former Tennessee Lady Vol, Parker is a two-time NCAA Champion, Rookie of the Year, WNBA Most Valuable Player, and an Olympic Gold Medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Now, she’s entering a new kind of court, one with diaper changes and midnight feedings. She and her husband Sheldon Williams, basketball player of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will now be playing on the same team to raise their daughter.

On May 13th, Parker gave birth to her first child, Lailaa Nicole Williams. Overjoyed as she was, she was also eager to return to work. The basketball star started practice two weeks after the birth, when her doctor cleared her to exercise, limiting her sessions to no more than 30 minutes. Parker has been feeling good since her pregnancy, certain that a return to full practices will burn off her last bit of extra weight. The sports star has become a widely recognized example of an accomplished young mom, and was the first pregnant athlete to appear on the cover of ESPN magazine. As this role model enters the world of working mothers, she has many thoughts on the transition:

Working Mother:
What kinds of sacrifices do you anticipate having to make (or have made) in your career in order to be there for your child? What do you think you’ll have to sacrifice for the sake of your career?

Candace:
First and foremost, my family has always and will always come first. I have always sacrificed whatever for my family and it will be no different for my daughter. I anticipate that like any parent my biggest sacrifice will be sleep, but that is a small price to pay for the blessings she gives me every day. I plan on her being with me throughout my career, sharing in my daily triumphs and struggles. I am fortunate to be involved in a career that allows me to bring my child along a lot and basketball is not a career where my schedule is set in stone from 9 until 5.


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