💐 A SALUTE TO A LEGEND

One of my favorite bits in women’s basketball coverage is whenever a player has a historical feat, they’re the first player to do it since __ or they join __ as the only players to do this. The __ in question is usually Candace Parker and on Sunday, CP3 officially entered Los Angeles Sparks lore.

Candace Parker has been a superstar for as long as any of us can remember. She was one of the biggest stars in high school basketball when she was in Illinois. She continued blazing trails when she joined Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee and won two national championships, along with a bushel of individual accolades.

After a historic run in college, Parker immediately made history when she joined the Sparks. She remains the only player in league history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season. That still doesn’t tell the entire story, as Candace crossed over and, as one of the faces of the WNBA in the 2010s, served as an early example of the continued evolution of basketball. She won everywhere she went and left the game in a lot better position than when she first entered it.

“Beyond her accolades, Candace has been a leader, a mentor, and a trailblazer – inspiring the next generation of athletes with her skill, resilience, and passion for the game,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “She has used her platform to elevate women’s sports, leaving a lasting legacy that transcends the court.”

That legacy is seen on our televisions every week during the NBA season. It’s seen in the next generation of athletes who are featured prominently with Adidas Basketball.

This is evident in the generation of fans and players who are inspired by Parker’s excellence. On June 29, Candace returned to LA, and her jersey was retired by the Sparks.

Parker’s jersey joins Penny Toler and Lisa Leslie in the Los Angeles rafters. Next stop, the Hall of Fame!

🏆FEVER WIN COMMISSIONER’S CUP!

Not many people had a Clark-less Indiana Fever team beating the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup. Well, Black Rosie Media founder Erica L. Ayala isn’t like many people.

Our very own Head Black Rosie in Charge (HBIC), a self-proclaimed contrarian, not only picked the Fever, but she also guessed it would be a double-digit win.

Check out Erica and Chris Williamsson chatting after the Indiana win.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I misspoke on CBS Sports HQ. I meant to say Minnesota has never won a title in an EVEN year. So, if they follow the Commissioner’s Cup trend (where the loser advances to the Finals and wins - Las Vegas 2023 & New York 2024), does this make them winners in 2025 (an odd year)? We shall see! -Erica L. Ayala, HBRIC

The afterparty was quite the time, and although Clark didn’t play on the court, she sure did party like it was 2012! Indiana celebrated its first hardware since winning its first and only WNBA Championship 13 years ago.

Oh, and they beat Minnesota that year, too!

Natasha Howard posted 16 points and 12 rebounds to earn MVP honors. Aliyah Boston also posted a double-double.

📰 WHAT WE’RE READING

At Black Rosie Media, we love to give flowers to other writers and creators in the women’s basketball community.

Here’s what we’re reading:

• Candace Parker: From top prospect to WNBA champion with three teams by Anthony De Leon for the Los Angeles Times

• Connecticut Sun Rookie Saniya Rivers Is Playing Through A Life-Altering Tragedy by Brenden Potts for World Exposure Report

• Allisha Gray has the 'ultimate green light' in Atlanta, and she's making the Dream go by Cassandra Negley for Yahoo Sports

• Gaming Doesn’t Sound The Same Without Black Music by Jameel Raeburn for OkayPlayer

⛹🏽‍♀️ UPCOMING GAMES

Here’s the schedule for the next few days (Eastern Standard Time)

💰 MONEY MOVES

MEET THE NEW BOSSES

While the Lynx continue to succeed on the court, they’ve got a newfound sense of security that will carry them into an exciting new era.

Over the past few years, there has been a bitter battle for ownership of the Lynx and the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. On one side was long term owner Glen Taylor. Taylor owned the Wolves since 1994 and Lynx since 1999. During that time, the Lynx established themselves as one of the very best organizations in the W, led by Cheryl Reeve.

On the other side were Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. Lore was the former CEO of Walmart, while A-Rod is one of the best baseball players of all time. The duo purchased shares in the teams in 2021 with the goal of eventually becoming majority owners. That process got scuttled by Taylor in 2024, and they’ve been in court ever since.

On April 2, Taylor stopped appealing in court and gave up ownership to Lore and Rodriguez. And now, the new bosses are in charge and introducing themselves to fans.

For Lynx fans worried that new owners might led to meddling with the work Reeve is doing, fear not! Lore and Rodriguez are big fans of the work Cheryl has done and plan to provide more help in the years to come.

“And really,” Lore told The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, “we just want to make sure that we continue to support her and the team and players, and keep that continuity there and keep everyone motivated to continue to to go after more championships.”

Everything is going right for the Lynx. They’re at the top of the league, have one of the most impactful athletes in sports, and with new ownership in tow, perhaps one of the brightest futures in sports.

📲 STAY CONNECTED!

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