CROWNED ONCE AND FOR ALL: Tennessee’s Own Candace Parker Officially Named the GREATEST WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME by ESPN — Lady Vols Icon Tops Diana Taurasi, Cheryl Miller, and Lynette Woodard in Historic GOAT Showdown, Cementing Her Legacy as the Gold Standard of Greatness in NCAA Hoops History
Knoxville, TN — In a moment that will echo across hardwood history forever, Candace Parker, the legendary Tennessee Lady Vols superstar and two-time NCAA champion, has been officially named the Greatest Women’s College Basketball Player of All Time by ESPN, topping a field of titanic talent that included UConn’s Diana Taurasi, USC’s Cheryl Miller, and Kansas legend Lynette Woodard.
The declaration came after weeks of bracket-style fan voting, expert analysis, and decades of debate. And when the dust settled, it was Parker — the 6’4″ phenom who changed the game with her unmatched blend of power, finesse, and leadership — who stood alone atop the mountain.
> “This means the world,” Parker said during her ESPN interview after the announcement. “To be in the same conversation as those women is surreal. But to be considered the greatest? That’s a testament to Tennessee, to Pat Summitt, and to every teammate who ever pushed me.”
A Vol for Life, A Legend for All Time
From the moment she first suited up in orange and white in 2005, Candace Parker was different. She wasn’t just playing the game — she was elevating it.
Recruited as the No. 1 high school prospect in the country, Parker immediately made history by becoming the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game. But it wasn’t just the dunks. It was the dominance. The versatility. The swagger. And the way she led with class and composure through every pressure-filled moment.
Over three seasons at Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt, Parker racked up:
Two NCAA Championships (2007, 2008)
Two Most Outstanding Player Awards from the Final Four
Two Wooden Awards (2007, 2008)
Over 2,100 points, 900+ rebounds, and 300+ assists in just 110 games
And an everlasting spot in the hearts of Vol Nation.
> “Candace Parker wasn’t just the best player in the country — she was the best player on any court she stepped onto,” said ESPN analyst and former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo.
The GOAT Race: Beating the Best of the Best
In ESPN’s highly publicized GOAT tournament — styled like March Madness — fans and analysts were asked to weigh in on the greatest to ever play women’s college basketball. The Final Four featured a dream lineup of all-time greats:
Diana Taurasi (UConn) – 3x NCAA champ, ice-cold killer in the clutch.
Cheryl Miller (USC) – Pioneer of the women’s game, 2x Naismith winner, unstoppable scorer.
Lynette Woodard (Kansas) – Olympic gold medalist, 3,649 career points, trailblazer.
Candace Parker (Tennessee) – The face of dominance in the 2000s.
It was close — incredibly close. But Parker’s combination of championships, individual accolades, cultural impact, and her status as a modern icon of the game ultimately pushed her ahead.
> “She did everything,” said ESPN’s Elle Duncan. “She defended. She scored. She dunked. She led. And she did it all with the pressure of carrying one of the most iconic programs in college sports. She was the moment.”
Pat Summitt’s Dream Fulfilled
There’s no separating Candace Parker’s rise from the influence of Pat Summitt, the late, great Tennessee coach who recruited Parker relentlessly — even as the star forward considered redshirting due to injury.
Their relationship — built on trust, challenge, and deep mutual respect — formed the backbone of a dynasty.
> “Pat believed in Candace before anyone else did,” said Lady Vols assistant coach Dean Lockwood. “She gave her the keys to the kingdom, and Candace delivered two crowns.”
Parker never forgets that. At the ESPN studio, she wore a blue bracelet with “Pat” engraved on it, and when her name was announced as the GOAT, she looked to the sky and whispered, “This one’s for you, Coach.”
Vol Nation Reacts: “She Was Always Our GOAT”
Tennessee fans have never doubted it — and now the rest of the world finally agrees.
#ParkerGOAT, #RockyTopRoyalty, and #QueenOfTheCourt trended immediately across social media as tributes poured in from fans, WNBA peers, and fellow NCAA legends.
Former Lady Vol teammate Nicky Anosike tweeted, “She changed the standard — and now she’s the standard.”
WNBA MVP and South Carolina product A’ja Wilson added, “Candace Parker paved the way. She’s the blueprint.”
And fans at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville are already calling for a new banner — not just for championships, but to honor her GOAT status.
> “We watched her grow here. We watched her dominate. We always knew,” said longtime fan Tracy Melvin, a season ticket holder since 1995. “Now the world knows too.”
What’s Next for the Queen?
Though Candace Parker recently announced her retirement from professional basketball, she’s far from leaving the game behind. As a broadcaster for TNT and a mentor to the next generation, Parker continues to shape the future of women’s basketball — just like she shaped its past.
> “Greatness doesn’t end when you hang up the jersey,” she said on-air. “You just find new ways to use it.”
And for Vol Nation, that greatness will always be rooted on Rocky Top.
Candace Parker isn’t just the GOAT of college basketball. She’s Tennessee’s forever queen. 🏀👑
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