Oct 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) talks with head coach Brian Agler in the second quarter of game three against the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA Finals. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Sparks’ Candace Parker Doesn’t Hold Back on WNBA Coaching Cycle: “Copycat League”

Originally posted on Los Angeles Sparks on SI
By Ben Geffner | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 2:48 AM ET

Candace Parker, a Los Angeles Sparks legend, spent 13 illustrious seasons with the purple and gold — helping the franchise to a WNBA championship in 2016.

The former Sparks' star earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2008 and averaged over 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists during her time in L.A.

Parker had her No. 3 jersey retired into the Crypto.com Arena rafters at halftime of L.A.'s June 29 game against the Chicago Sky.

Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey officially in the LA rafters. pic.twitter.com/FLwpJs76Zn
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 29, 2025

In a recent episode of her podcast, "Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston," Parker was brutally honest in challenging the current WNBA head coaching cycle — referencing Alex Sarama, a former assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers and recently hired as the Portland Fire's new head coach.

The Fire, a WNBA expansion team, officially join the league in 2026.

Are WNBA coaching jobs going back to men? pic.twitter.com/cnZJP0S8dV
— Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston (@PostMovesShow) October 23, 2025

"I just think that the WNBA is a copycat league and ... has had success in coaches that have come from the NBA," Parker said. "But the problem that I have is a lot of the coaches that are going to come from the NBA are not going to be women — and in a league that is all women, I think that the coaching positions are ... going back to men.

"If everything is going back to NBA, do women walking in the door have a fair shot?" Parker added.