Parker will lead Adidas in building a new platform for women's basketball focused on representation and diversity.
PORTLAND, Ore. — WNBA legend Candace Parker will become Adidas' new head of women's basketball operations, the company announced Wednesday.
Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and the only rookie in league history to be named MVP, recently retired from the WNBA after more than 15 years. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time, the only player in WNBA history to rank in the top 10 all-time in points, rebounds, assists and blocks, and has been a partner with Adidas for 16 years. There is.
“Stepping into this new leadership role is a very personal next step in my journey at Adidas,” Parker said in a press release. “From high school to college to professional athletics to today, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes our shared commitment to driving change and setting new standards that will impact the future of women’s sports. It's not just about the product. It's about promoting a movement focused on innovation, expression and access.”
Parker will be based in Los Angeles, where the company's basketball operations are based, and will lead Adidas in building a new platform for women's basketball focused on representation and diversity.
Adidas, headquartered in Germany, has its North American headquarters in Portland, where it employs approximately 2,000 people. There's also a store in Montgomery Park in northwest Portland that has a lot of employee traffic.
Adidas' women's basketball partners include modern-day greats such as LSU's Haley Van Lith, the Indiana Fever's Aaliyah Edwards and the Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike.
KGW news partner Portland Business Journal has more on Parker's story.