All for Tennessee
Fansided

Watch Candace Parker’s Emotional Tribute to Pat Summitt After Leading the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA Championship

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) celebrates her basket in the third quarter against the Minnesota Lynx in game one of the WNBA Finals. at Target Center. The Los Angeles Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) celebrates her basket in the third quarter against the Minnesota Lynx in game one of the WNBA Finals. at Target Center. The Los Angeles Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 78-76. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Tennessee Lady Vols star Candace Parker paid tribute to Pat Summitt after leading the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA Title over the Minnesota Lynx.

Candace Parker led the Los Angeles Sparks to their third WNBA Championship Thursday night, and the first of her career. She scored 28 points in a 77-76 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to win the series 3-2.

Nneka Ogwumike hit a jumper with three seconds left to give the Sparks the win.

Although Ogwumike hit the game-winner, Parker was the clear series MVP. She had 12 rebounds and three steals to go along with the points in the decisive game.

She could not hide her emotions either and made sure to pay tribute to her college coach, the late Pat Summitt, with the championship.

With the win, Candace Parker has now accomplished everything a person could possibly accomplish playing women’s college basketball. She’s won college player of the year awards and national championships, gold medals, and WNBA MVPs and championships.

Meanwhile, she remains one of the biggest stars of the sport. Since Geno Auriemma left her off the Olympic team this year, the title has to be that much sweeter.

However, the win wasn’t without controversy.

Lynx Coach Cheryl Reeve did not hide her disdain for the officiating in the series. Ogwumike appeared to make a shot as the shot-clock expired with over a minute left that made a difference in the game.

But it’s hard to say if that was the deciding factor in the outcome.

Regardless, Parker is a WNBA champion now. And she still has not forgotten Pat Summitt.

Home/Vols Basketball