BREAKING: WNBA Legend Candace Parker Shatters Barrier, Becomes First Female Co‑Chair of Pro Athlete Community
In a seismic shift that reverberates far beyond the hardwood, Candace Parker—a three‑time WNBA champion and two‑time league MVP—has been appointed co‑chair of the board of advisors for the Pro Athlete Community (PAC), making her the first woman athlete ever to hold that position.
This move signals more than just a title change—it’s a powerful statement in the evolving world of professional sports careers. PAC, a membership network of over 1,600 current and former pro athletes, exists to help players navigate the uncertain trajectory after their playing days end.  Parker joins the co‑chairs famed NFL twins Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty, marking a pivot point in representation and leadership for athletes from all genders.
Parker’s professional legacy is storied: drafted No. 1 overall, she immediately disrupted expectations, became the only WNBA player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, and anchored championship teams across multiple eras. When the spotlight faded, she didn’t fade with it—Parker built a post‑career trajectory that includes leading roles in business, media and advocacy.
In her first public remarks since joining PAC, Parker underscored that retirement for pro athletes is not an end—it’s a launching pad. “For many professional athletes, retirement marks the start of a brand‑new chapter—one that can be full of opportunity, growth and reinvention,” she said.
At its heart, PAC’s mission is about rewiring the narrative. Many athletes face sharp identity shifts when their playing days end, often with limited preparation for what comes next—business ventures, media careers, entrepreneurship. The organization connects athletes with executive mentors, educational resources and networks geared toward off‑court success.  With Parker stepping into a leadership role, the representation for female athletes gets a long overdue boost—a breakthrough in a space historically dominated by male athletes and male leadership. Her appointment sends a message: women athletes belong at the table, shaping opportunities not just chasing them.
Parker is not simply a figurehead. Under her co‑chair role, she’ll work alongside PAC co‑founders Chip Paucek and Kaleb Thornhill to expand access for women athletes and amplify their business and leadership opportunities across the athletic ecosystem. She has spoken candidly about how, for too long, women athletes have been asked to shrink themselves—yet paradoxically carry the same internships, international playing experience and academic credentials as their male peers. “We are the ones that are staying in college and getting four‑year degrees… we are the ones that are doing the internships and have the experiences of playing abroad.”
This appointment comes at a moment of cultural change in sport: women’s leagues expanding, media viewership rising, brands investing more heavily in women athletes—and now women athletes investing back into organizational leadership. Parker’s transition from decorated competitor to boardroom architect exemplifies this shift. PAC itself is expanding its brand footprint (its members’ combined Instagram following tops 38 million) and building bridges between elite athletic performance and elite business acumen.
In the coming months, expect Parker-driven initiatives to emerge—programs targeting business training for women athletes, mentorship opportunities, pathways to board seats and C‑suite roles for players exiting competition. For PAC, the upgrade in leadership could accelerate its ambition to redefine “life after sport” not as fallback, but as reinvention. For readers and followers of women’s sports, Parker’s appointment isn’t just a headline; it’s a call to tune in, engage and watch this next chapter unfold.
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