Top 10 Tennessee Vols legends not born in the state

The last Tennessee Lady Vols player to achieve immortal status, Candace Parker helped Pat Summitt end what was then a national title drought. And she immediately became the best player in women’s college basketball.

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Born St. Louis, Parker grew up in Naperville, Ill. from the time she was two years old. But she committed to Summitt and the Lady Vols. The best player in women’s high school basketball, Parker arrived with extremely high expectations from the start. It would be hard to see how she could live up to them.

Well, Parker surpassed them. It was part of the glory days of the Tennessee Lady Vols. She only played three years for Summitt’s team, and she flat-out dominated. A three-time All-American, it was clear from her first season in 2005-2006 that Parker was a superstar. Summitt said she could be the best player of all time.

The next two years, Parker was the national player of the year both times. But showing her clutch gene, she also was the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player both years. Simply put, she is a Tennessee Vols legend who hails from the Midwest.

Parker’s legendary status continued in the WNBA, where she has won multiple MVP’s and captured a championship. An Olympic Gold Medalist as well, there is literally nothing that she has not accomplished.

Unfortunately, Tennessee women’s basketball would fall off after she left. And the program hasn’t really recovered. But obviously, this was partly due to tragic reasons that had nothing to do with what took place on the court.