Parker Becomes Second Lady Vol To Win The Cup
Published on June 23, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
New York, NY - For the second time in 10 years, a University of Tennessee Lady Vol is the Honda-Broderick Cup recipient. Monday, at a press conference at the Columbia University Low Memorial Library in New York, N.Y., Honda, Inc., announced Candace Parker as its 2008 cup winner.
"I am honored to be chosen as the Honda-Broderick Cup winner this year from such an outstanding group of female student-athletes," Parker said. "I have been blessed to be recognized as an individual but know that I couldn't have gotten where I am today without the help of my family, friends, teammates and coaches. My experience at the University of Tennessee prepared me for life as a professional basketball player and as a strong, independent woman. Coach Summitt always says if you surround yourself with great people and players, you are destined for great things. Winning this award and two national championships at Tennessee are, to me, great things. I want to thank Honda for its continued support of the award and women's athletics throughout the years."
Parker, who opted out of her final year of eligibility, graduated in May from the University of Tennessee with a degree in sport management. On April 9, she was the No. 1 overall pick in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She finished her career at Rocky Top with a plethora of school records, including most dunks, free throws made and attempted in a game; most dunks, blocks, free throws made and attempted in a single season; and as the career leader in dunks, blocks, free throws made and attempted. She became just the fourth 2,000-point scorer and was the eighth Lady Vol to amass 900 rebounds in program history. In 2008, her accolades included ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year and first-team Academic All-America honors, unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC), SEC All-Tournament Team and SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, the Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association National Player of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year and unanimous first-team All-America honors. Parker also received ESPN.com National Player of the Year, State Farm All-America, WBCA National Player of the Month in January, and Oklahoma City Regional and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament and Most Outstanding Player honors.
The Naperville, Ill., native averaged 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 steals in 38 games this season while leading her team to a 36-2 record and the program's eighth NCAA Championship. The 36-win total marks the second-most in school history, behind only the 1997-98 squad that went 39-0. This year's team set new UT records for three-pointers made and attempted and went an astonishing 18-2 against top-25 opposition.
The Collegiate Women's Sports Awards program is in its 32nd year and recognizes the top collegiate woman athlete in each of 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. In addition, the program honors the top women collegiate athletes representing Division II and Division III schools and the recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award. The Award winners in the 12 sports were automatically nominated for The Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and from those 12 rose Parker as the victor of the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup.
The honor is based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program for each sport. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., sponsor of the program, celebrates each nominee by donating $5,000 to each Honda Sports Award recipient school and $1,000 to each nominee school.
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- Parker Becomes Second Lady Vol To Win The Cup - WNBA
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