Candace Parker Named Adidas’ First-Ever President of Women’s Basketball

Elizabeth Swinton | May 8, 2024

Candace Parker has been named Adidas' president of women's basketball following her retirement. / Adidas

Candace Parker is wasting no time in continuing her mission to grow women’s basketball. 

Just 10 days following her retirement from her storied playing career, Parker has been named Adidas’ president of women’s basketball, the brand announced Wednesday. It is a first-of-its-kind role for Adidas, in which Parker will work to oversee product lines, expand the brand’s existing athlete roster and increase representation among her responsibilities.

Parker has long roots with Adidas, having worn the brand’s shoes in high school and college and officially signing as a professional athlete in 2008 following her Rookie of the Year WNBA season. Since then, Parker became the first woman to have a signature shoe with Adidas when her ACE Commander was released in 2010, headlined multiple collections with the brand and has acted as a mentor for collegiate Adidas athletes in the NIL era. 

In her retirement message posted to social media, Parker stated her intentions to expand her ventures with her playing career at a close. Now in her new role with Adidas, Parker will do just that, having the opportunity to shape the rapidly-growing landscape of women’s basketball from a new vantage point. 

“From high school to college to playing pro to now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women's sports,” Parker said in a press release. “It's not just about products; it's about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation, and access.”

Parker will have input on new product lines while also building upon Adidas’ women’s basketball athlete roster, which currently includes Aliyah Boston, Hailey Van Lith, Kahleah Copper, Aaliyah Edwards, Chelsea Gray, Betnijah Laney, Alysha Clark, Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler, among others. In appointing Parker as its first-ever president of women’s basketball, Adidas continues to prioritize investment in women’s sports and its focus on women’s basketball. 

“As a true innovator with a profound passion for the game, we are confident that she is a perfect fit to evolve the Adidas women’s basketball business and catalyze a new era of growth and credibility for the brand,” Adidas basketball global general manager Eric Wise said in a statement. 

As one of the best to play the game, Parker—a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA MVP—is uniquely fit for the challenge.