Candace Parker: What to know about NCAA basketball March Madness analyst, WNBA star, Lady Vols legend

Candace Parker is taking over March Madness as a studio analyst.

The former Tennessee Lady Vols star and WNBA All-Star is providing analysis with host Ernie Johnson in the CBS Atlanta studio alongside Jay Wright and Seth Davis for coverage throughout the NCAA Tournament.

Before contributing to March Madness coverage, the 36-year-old Parker was hired by Turner Sports as an analyst for NBA on TNT and NBA TV. Parker often contributed to TNT's "Inside the NBA," and she also made her debut as the first female commentator during the 2023 NBA All-Star game.

Here's everything to know about Parker and her career.

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Candace Parker: Tennessee Lady Vols basketball star

Parker spent three seasons with the Lady Vols and finished her career third all-time at UT in scoring, fifth in career rebounds, third in rebounds per game, fourth in career points per game, third in made field goals, first in made free throws and was first in blocked shots.

She made history as the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game against Army and was the first woman to dunk twice in any game.

After three seasons with the Lady Vols, Parker graduated from Tennessee in May 2008 with a major in sport management and a minor in psychology.

She led the Lady Vols to two consecutive national championships and later had her No. 5 retired in 2014.

WNBA star with Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces

The 6-foot-5 Parker has played 15 years in the WNBA. She was drafted by Los Angeles with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and went on to play 12 seasons with the Sparks.

She recently signed with the Las Vegas Aces.

During her time in Los Angeles, Parker was awarded MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, WNBA Finals MVP, and WNBA All-Star game MVP. She also helped lead the Sparks to a WNBA title in 2016, then again in Chicago with the Sky in 2021.

Entering the 2023 season, Parker has appeared in the playoffs 11 straight years which is one off of the record held by former Lady Vols star Tamika Catchings.

Candace Parker's married, family life

Parker was born in St. Louis and started her high school basketball career at Naperville Central in Naperville, Illinois.

She also has two older brothers, Anthony and Marcus.

Parker married Shelden Williams and gave birth to her daughter Lailaa in 2009. Williams divorced Parker about eight years later in 2016.

Parker married Anna Petrakova, who was a member of the Russian Olympic team, in 2021. The couple welcomed their first son, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker, in February 2022.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Candace Parker: NCAA basketball March Madness analyst, WNBA star