Quiet moments don’t seem to exist for two-time WNBA champion Candace Parker.
She’s in constant motion, seamlessly blending her roles as one of the WNBA’s most decorated athletes, a wife, mother of Lailaa and Airr, a businesswoman and a studio analyst and commentator for WBD Sports (formerly Turner Sports). Over the last year, ESPN Films captured it all for a documentary directed by Joie Jacoby.
The film shows Parker as the professional so many have come to know through basketball and the personal side of her that very few have seen.
“I’ve been able to accomplish everything I have on the court because of how my family inspires me,” Parker shared on social media. “This film shows how I balance both worlds.”
The film crew spent the 2022 WNBA season shadowing Parker through training and game days, but that’s only a fraction of the story. The untitled documentary merges Parker’s life on and off the court, detailing how she makes it all work. It includes archival footage on top of what the crew filmed. Viewers will get a glimpse into Parker’s life with her wife, Anya, and their entire family.
The documentary is the first feature from ESPN’s W. Studios. The platform, announced in May, is an expansion of the company’s -espnW brand, with a focus on women-centered storytelling. On top of her being the subject of the documentary, Parker’s production company, Baby Hair Productions, produced the film along with Film 45.
The film, which does not have a release date yet, had no impact on Parker’s relationship with WBD Sports, with whom she signed a multiyear extension in September.
The crew was present during the Sky’s ring ceremony in May and as the team attempted to become the first to win back-to-back WNBA titles in 20 years. The Sky won their first championship in 2021, Parker’s first season with her hometown team.
Ultimately, the Sky and Parker were unable to complete that historic run, losing to the Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of the semifinals on their home court.
Parker’s eventual retirement was one of the biggest storylines of the 2022 WNBA season. As the season progressed and Parker made history more than once, it became clear she still has plenty left to give to the game.
Parker will become an unrestricted free agent in the new year, and she said she will evaluate what’s next for her on the court during the offseason. She has been adamant that the day she wakes up unwilling to prepare her body for the season ahead is when she’ll be ready to hang it up.
There has been no mention of the documentary including Parker’s plans, but if it’s as personal as it has been described, it’s a safe assumption what’s next for the seven-time All-Star will come up.
“I won’t cheat the game,” Parker said after the Sky’s semifinal series loss.
