When Candace Parker defeated an NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion and other high-flyers in a dunk contest

Impressing the judges and the crowd

Of course, Parker's repertoire wasn't as athletic or creative as his male counterparts, but she was still able to wow the crowd with her one-handed dunks that had a bit of a flare, including putting the ball behind her back and covering her eyes.

The Illinois native made it past the first round of the contest by placing fourth behind J.R. Smith, Joe Crawford, and Darius Washington Jr. The judges then showed her plenty of love in the final round, handing her the win.

Some might be wondering why "Ace" was included in the event. The organization knew how much of an engaging story it would be to see a female player compete against the boys in their playground, which turned out to be accurate.

Was it too much to name her the champion, though? Probably. Then again, her dunks were no joke, especially considering how difficult it is for women to perform the move. Interestingly, Parker's appearance in the contest came only two years after Lisa Leslie made the first dunk in a WNBA game.

More than just a dunker

Despite her ability to dunk the ball, a feat she had been able to do since she was 15, Parker's legacy hardly revolves around it.

She was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008, where she became teammates with Leslie. The two-time NCAA champion then turned a lot of heads in her first year in the league by breaking several records, including being the first WNBA player to dunk more than once in a season and bagging the MVP award as a rookie.

Parker missed a significant number of games in the next couple of seasons due to her pregnancy and injuries. Fortunately, she made a successful comeback in the following years, securing her second MVP in 2013 and becoming a WNBA champion in 2016. She was also named Finals MVP that year.

The seven-time All-Star retired from playing earlier this year, but not before clinching two more titles — one with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and lastly with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.

There are some arguments for and against her being the best female basketball player ever, although the fact that one of the greatest players today, A'ja Wilson, considers her the WNBA GOAT speaks volumes about her greatness.

Basketball fans can still watch Parker on TV, as she currently serves as an analyst and commentator for TNT Sports.