Why Candace Parker's daughter will walk her into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Candace Parker has a photo on her desk at her home in Los Angeles from when she won her first WNBA championship with the Sparks in 2016.

Parker is crying, but her daughter Lailaa Williams, who was then 7 years old, is yelling in Parker's ear, "We did it!"

There's no truer statement to describe the relationship between the Lady Vols legend and her daughter, who was born in May 2009 after Parker's historic rookie season in Los Angeles.

"She knows that we win together, we lose together," Parker told Knox News on June 25 at the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.

Williams was along for the ride of Parker's incredible professional career, Parker was pregnant with her during the 2008 season she won an Olympic gold medal, WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP, so it only makes sense that she'll escort Parker during her induction to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on June 27 at the Tennessee Theatre.

"It just seemed like we'd gone through everything together, and she's been right by my side," Parker said. "In terms of sacrificing for me to achieve my dreams, she's done that the most, to be honest with you, living in different countries and leaving school to go to my game, staying up late, all those things. So I just feel like it was right to have her walk me in."

Williams, now 17 and set to play volleyball at UC San Diego next year, has grown up into someone who could pick her up during hard times.

Parker didn't get to finish her final WNBA season in 2023, suffering a season-ending injury while playing for the Las Vegas Aces. But Williams was there for Parker to lean on as she dealt with the emotions of retiring in 2024 and rehab from the injury that ended her career.

"It was special, because she was a part of it and remembers the journey," Parker said. "So I think she picks me up every single day. She keeps me humble for sure, because she could care less if I play basketball or dribble ball, like I'm her mom first."

The pair, who share the middle name Nicole, grew up together. Parker was only 23 when she gave birth to Williams, who saw the world as her playground after living overseas with Parker while she played in Russia, China and Turkey during the offseason.

When Williams was 3 years old, Parker told her they could do a mommy-daughter day on her off day, and she asked her what she wanted to do. Parker was expecting an answer like Chuck E. Cheese, but Williams responded, "I want to go to Dubai!"

It made Parker laugh, but it also made her happy that her daughter lived in a world where anything was possible.

"I'm thankful for her and to her, because she allowed me to make mistakes," Parker said. "But I think being her role model has set me with a purpose."

Williams' presence during the biggest moments of her career made them all more meaningful for Parker. When she led the Chicago Sky to the franchise's first WNBA championship in 2021, Parker sprinted across the court to her family, and tears streamed down her face as she hugged her daughter.

When Parker's No. 3 jersey, which has now also been retired by both the Sparks and the Sky, was retired at Tennessee in 2014, Williams was on the court with Parker, legendary coach Pat Summitt and Holly Warlick, who succeeded Summitt in 2012.

There's a photo where Warlick's arms are around Williams, who was barely taller than the frame with Parker's jersey. Williams is looking up at Summitt and Parker, and all three of them are beaming at Williams.

Summitt knew how badly Parker wanted to be a mother. When Parker told her she was pregnant, Summitt was thrilled, and she shipped a stroller and other gifts to Parker the next day. But Summitt, who died of Alzheimer's in 2016, knew Parker's daughter, and they're memories Parker cherishes.

"I have this amazing picture of (Summitt) playing with Lailaa at, I think we went and visited them in Texas," Parker said. "So it's just all the memories flow back, and I know she held Lailaa and played with her. So it was just really special to have those pictures to be able to look back on."

Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Candace Parker's daughter, Lailaa, will walk her into WBHOF induction