Becoming a mother is life-changing and even more so when you’re a pro athlete currently playing in the WNBA. In a heartfelt chat on “All Facts No Brakes,” NBA legend Keyshawn Johnson and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller sat down with Candace Parker, where she opened up about the surprising challenges she faced as a new mom, even decades into her legendary career.
“It came at the time we were sharing rooms in the WNBA,” Parker explained. “So I had to buy out half of the room so my mom could stay with my daughter. I was nursing her before the game and at halftime. I was buying my mom’s ticket to the games with us on the commercial flight.”
Back in 2009, fresh off her Rookie of the Year/MVP season and just returning from maternity leave, Parker found herself navigating mothering duties with zero maternity pay and minimal support structure from the league. Hotels were shared, flights were cutthroat, and the basic support many working moms take for granted simply didn’t exist. So, Parker paid out of pocket to ensure her mother could accompany her and care for baby Lailaa on long trips. She even nursed during halftime.
She recalled missing half the season’s start since her postpartum break lasted just 53 days, before jumping right back onto the court on day 54.
“I was super grateful that she was a part of my career because I don’t know what I would have done. She kept me grounded. She kept me humble,” Parker shared.
Why This Moment Matters for Black Women in Sports
This moment highlights more than just one woman’s story. It reflects a broader conversation about the challenges Black women face in professional spaces when motherhood enters the picture.
At the time, the WNBA didn’t offer paid maternity leave, placing athletes like Parker in impossible positions. Her sacrifices weren’t just physical. They were financial and emotional, too. By carrying both her baby and her team, Parker redefined what it means to balance dual identities of being a mom and an athlete with very little institutional support.
A Legacy Beyond Stats
Many know Candace Parker as a two-time WNBA MVP, three-time champion with three different teams, and an Olympic gold medalist. But this untold story brings fans deeper. It highlights the realities behind the glory. While paying out-of-pocket for hotel rooms wasn’t part of any game plan, it was part of her story of resilience.
Parker’s story shines a spotlight on the invisible labor of motherhood in professional sports, particularly for Black women leading in high-performance arenas. It wasn’t just about reclaiming her space on the court, but carving a space for her child beside her.