WNBA legend Candace Parker is one of four player honorees stepping into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later tonight.<\/p>\n
As the induction gets closer, fans want to know more about the woman behind the trophies. So before the big night, here’s a simple rundown of who the former WNBA player is married to and their relationship.<\/p>\n
Is Candace Parker Married?<\/p>\n
For those wondering, Parker is currently married to Anna Petrakova, a former international basketball player.<\/p>\n
Petrakova played college basketball at the University of Louisiana from 2001 to 2005. She made a name for herself during her time there and was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2004.<\/p>\n
After college, she continued her career overseas, playing for several major clubs in Russia, including UMMC Ekaterinburg, Dynamo Kursk, and Dynamo Moscow. She also competed in European competitions, winning the EuroLeague Women twice.<\/p>\n
Parker and Petrakova first met in 2012 while playing together for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia. What started as a friendship slowly became something more. In an interview with PEOPLE<\/a>, Parker explained that there was no single moment when everything changed.<\/p>\n “It was kind of gradual over time. There wasn’t any really moment where it was like we’re in the rain, and we kiss and all that stuff. No, it was more just little things over time that made me realize I didn’t want to live without her, and she’s my best friend,” Parker said.<\/p>\n Parker proposed to Petrakova during a birthday trip to Mexico in April 2019. Petrakova had planned the trip for Parker, but the vacation ended with Parker getting down on one knee on a boat.<\/p>\n Around 15 close friends and family members were there to witness the moment, including Parker’s daughter, Lailaa, from her previous marriage.<\/p>\n The couple married on December 14, 2019, in a private ceremony with around 50 guests. Parker later made their relationship public<\/a> on Instagram in December 2021, sharing that they had already been married for two years.<\/p>\n The couple welcomed their first son<\/a>, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker, on February 11, 2022. They later became parents to another son<\/a>, Hartt Summitt Petrakov Parker, who was born on May 21, 2024.<\/p>\n Parker’s Life Before Marrying Petrakova<\/p>\n Before her marriage to Petrakova, Parker was married to former NBA player Shelden Williams. They first met at Duke University in 2003, during Parker’s official recruiting visit. However, Parker ultimately went to the University of Tennessee.<\/p>\n But they still stayed in contact and eventually got married on November 13, 2008. Their daughter, Lailaa, was born the following year. Parker and Williams later divorced in 2016.<\/p>\n Parker’s Prolific Playing Career<\/p>\n Parker entered the WNBA in 2008 after being selected No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons with the Sparks from 2008 through 2020 before playing two seasons with the Chicago Sky and one season with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.<\/p>\n Across her 16-year WNBA career, Parker averaged 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Her resume also speaks for itself.<\/p>\n MORE: ‘He Literally Almost Cried’ \u2013 Candace Parker Reveals the Reason She Chose Dwyane Wade as Hall-of-Fame Presenter<\/a><\/p>\n She’s the only player in the WNBA to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008); she picked up a second MVP award in 2013, won three WNBA championships, took home Defensive Player of the Year, and made seven All-Star teams, among other honors. She ultimately retired in April 2024.<\/p>\n Now, her induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is another major recognition of what she accomplished on the court.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n