Former WNBA MVP Candace Parker Named President of Adidas Women’s Basketball

Candace Parker, the former two-time WNBA MVP, has been appointed president of Adidas women’s basketball, signifying a dramatic shift in the landscape of women’s sports. AJ Hess of Fast Company broke the news exclusively on Wednesday, exposing Parker’s key new role at the famed sporting company.

Parker’s responsibilities will include product development, branding activities, and strategic athlete signings, according to Hess’ article. Notably, Parker underlined her willingness to actively participate in decision-making processes rather than simply functioning as a figurehead for the company.

“I said to [Adidas], ‘I don’t want to be a mascot. I really want to be in the meetings, and I want to be a part of making decisions,'” Parker disclosed in her conversation with Hess.

Parker announced his retirement from the WNBA on April 28 following an impressive 16-season career. Throughout her career, Parker etched her name in basketball history, becoming the only player to win championships with three different teams: the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, the Chicago Sky in 2021, and the Los Vegas Aces in 2023.

Eric Wise, Adidas’ global GM of basketball, affirmed Parker’s integral role in the brand’s daily operations, headquartered in Los Angeles. “Parker will collaborate with the brand to create a powerful platform aimed at influencing and elevating the future of women’s sports,” Adidas stated, as reported by Andscape.

Parker has been working with Adidas, dating back to her high school days in Naperville, Illinois when the brand sponsored her squad. Despite tantalizing offers from Nike and Adidas following her collegiate success at Tennessee, Parker chose Adidas, officially signing with the brand in 2008.

Her influence extended beyond the court, as Parker became the first female athlete to receive Adidas player-edition footwear and the ninth WNBA player to debut a signature shoe, the TS Ace Commander, in 2010. Parker’s unique touch was evident in the design process, where she incorporated personal touches like a midfoot support strap and a multicolored outsole inspired by her love for Skittles candy.

With Parker at the helm, Adidas aims to fortify its position in women’s basketball, leveraging her expertise and vision to drive growth and innovation within the sector. The brand’s commitment to women’s sports was underscored by its increased marketing expenditure during the 2024 NCAA women’s tournament, outpacing investments in the men’s event, as highlighted by Marketing Brew’s Alyssa Meyers.