As Candace Parker hangs up her Adidas, the legacy she leaves behind transcends basketball. What a career! While we’ll remember her WNBA and NCAA championships and MVP season, I’ll always be inspired by her discipline and unrelenting commitment to excellence.
Are you ever in need of a motivational boost or a “kick in the pants?” This collection of Candace Parker quotes delves into the mindset of a hard-working champion. Each quote I included reflects Parker’s philosophy on discipline and self-belief. Hopefully one or more helps you keep your foot on the gas toward your own goals.
So whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a professional navigating challenges, or simply someone seeking inspiration to push through the daily grind, these Candace Parker quotes serve as powerful reminders of what’s possible with hard work and determination.
Inspirational Candace Parker Quotes to Motivate You
1. A Promise to the Game
“I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it. The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time.”
Coasting through your life is seldom a good choice. Candace Parker shared this reflective statement via Instagram in April 2024, announcing her retirement and emphasizing the high expectations she placed on herself.
2. Self-Belief Amidst Doubt
“Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you.”
Imposter syndrome is real. This Candace Parker quote from an Instagram post underscores the importance of self-confidence, a principle that she has consistently advocated throughout her career. It’s not that she felt she was great at everything, but she believed that she could become great.
3. Being Present and Prepared
“I learned that I play better when I’m just in the moment and I prepare and do the best I can.”
Here, Parker highlights the role mindfulness and preparation play in enhancing performance.
4. Dreaming While Doing
“Today I know that there is still work to be done, but along the way I am achieving my dreams.”
A lifelong learner is someone who is constantly looking for new knowledge, experiences, and skills to better themselves. In this Candace Parker quote, she reflects on hard work and the realization of dreams, pointing out how success is an ongoing journey.
5. Are You a Winner, or No?
“You’re measured by championships no matter what.”
Here, Parker discusses the high stakes and external pressures of professional sports, which emphasizes the visible markers of success, like titles won. She won two NCAA championships while at the University of Tennessee and three WNBA championships.
6. Learning from Pat Summitt
“Pat Summitt talks about handling success as you handle failure, and I think that stuck with me because I think we’re always so hard on ourselves when we fail.”
With this Candace Parker quote, she shares wisdom from her Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, emphasizing the need for resilience in the face of both success and failure. Our list of Pat Summitt quotes offers more insights from the legendary coach.
7. Goals, Big and Small
“I’m so goal-oriented. I have microscopic goals for day-to-day and I have telescopic goals. Those are so important to me…”
Goals can help you work toward and through things. This statement highlights Parker’s strategic approach to planning out both short-term tasks and long-term aspirations.
8. Humble Check from Dad
“On my best days, such as when I was a junior in high school coming off a 42-point performance and near triple-double, my dad was there to tell me I haven’t arrived yet and bring me back to reality.”
Surround yourself with people who keep you grounded to help you stay centered and present. For Candace, that was her dad. She recalls how her father kept her focused, even during her early successes.
9. Surrendering to the Outcome
“I’m gonna prepare, I’m gonna do what I can, and then I’m gonna relinquish the results.”
In this Candace Parker quote, she discusses her philosophy of focusing on preparation and effort and letting the outcomes fall where they may.
10. Think Bigger
“Barrier-breaking is about not staying in your lane and not being something that the world expects you to be. It’s about not accepting limitations.”
Candace Parker’s versatility and size helped usher in a new era of positionless play in women’s basketball. She could have never done so if she limited herself to the traditional post-player style of play. So, here, she speaks to innovation and breaking expectations, encouraging others to defy their own imposed limits.
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11. What Is Greatness?
“… Greatness is repeatedly getting up and doing something because you know that that’s going to get you where you want to go, even when you don’t feel like it.”
Sometimes we simply don’t feel like showing up. But, this quote captures Parker’s view on perseverance and the relentless pursuit of goals. She defines greatness as consistent effort regardless of obstacles.
12. Thanks, Dad
“From my first dunk at 14 years old to my second NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee, my intense training with my dad was always to credit.”
We can’t get to where we want to be alone. Candace Parker credits her father’s rigorous training for her early and continued successes.
13. Compete With Yourself
“What you’re truly able to accomplish..if you base yourself all the time on what other people are doing, then you’re going to sell yourself short… You truly are your biggest competition.”
We can’t worry about what anybody else is doing. Here, Parker talks about self-competition as the way to unlock your potential. Personal growth over comparing yourself to others.
14. Look Fear in the Face
“Never let fear hold you back from pursuing your dreams.”
This quote serves as a powerful reminder from Parker to push beyond fear and chase your dreams with courage.
15. Defying Doubters
“I am one of those people who loves to throw out crazy goals and then just watch the people’s faces around me be like, ‘Oh, there’s no way.” And then as soon as somebody tells me, ‘There’s no way’ then I know that I’m going to do everything in my power to achieve it.”
“Oh, you don’t think I can do it?” Be like Parker, who thrives on setting ambitious goals and using doubt from others as motivation to achieve them.
16. Challenge Accepted
“Don’t tell me I can’t do something.”
A straightforward declaration of a fighting spirit, this Candace Parker quote reflects her determination to overcome any challenge.
17. Driven By Competition
![A Candace Parker quote graphic that reads: "I'm driven by [competition]."](https://homeschoolhoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CandaceParkerQuotes_Quote_17_DrivenByCompetition-683x1024.jpg)
“I’m driven by [competition].”
Winning activates the reward centers in your brain, making a competitive spirit so valuable. This simple yet profound statement from Parker underscores how competition fuels her ambition and performance.
18. The Danger of Settling
“When you settle, that’s when everybody catches up.”
No one chooses mediocrity but many are okay with it. Parker warns against complacency, stressing that continual improvement is a must to stay ahead.
19. Self-Reflection Over Comparison
“You can look to your right and compare your adversity to somebody else or you can just look yourself in the mirror and it’s what you’re gonna face with that person you’re looking in the mirror.”
Another reminder to focus on yourself rather than how you stack up to others. This Candace Parker quote promotes introspection over comparison. She encourages you to focus on your challenges and growth.
20. Commitment to Hard Work
“Continue to be the hardest worker out there. Be the first one in the gym and the last one to leave.”
Parker certainly had natural talent, but what set her apart was her relentless work ethic and dedication, a philosophy she lived by throughout her career.
21. Dreams to Reality
“Dream big and work hard to make it a reality.”
This call to action encourages you to not only dream but also put in the necessary work to achieve those dreams.
22. Can’t Count on Motivation
“I lean on discipline when motivation is gone.”
Sometimes you’ve got to do it regardless if you want to or not. Parker explains how it’s discipline that kept her moving forward even when motivation waned.
23. Determination Over Circumstances
“Success is not determined by your circumstances, but by your determination.”
You may face obstacles others don’t. Here, Candace Parker emphasizes that achieving success is driven more by one’s determination and efforts than by external conditions or situations.
24. Learning From Failure
“Failure is not the end, but an opportunity to learn and grow.”
This motivational Candace Parker quote reflects her positive outlook on failure, viewing it as a stepping stone for developing and moving forward.
25. Strength is Multifaceted
“Strength isn’t just physical – it’s also about the mentality you carry, both on and off the court.”
In an Instagram post, Parker broadens the concept of strength. She points out its mental aspect and its importance in all areas.
26. A Tribute to Pat Summitt
“This is for Pat”
Uttered after winning her first WNBA title in 2016, this poignant statement by Parker was in honor of her late college coach, Pat Summitt, acknowledging her lasting influence.
If You Like These Candace Parker Quotes…
Everyone can use a little extra motivation, so share this post with your followers if you found these quotes from Candace Parker helpful. Or, take a look at our other curated lists of basketball quotes.
I also recommend watching the documentary Pat XO, which features Parker in telling the impactful story of Pat Summitt. It’s one of the best women’s basketball documentaries, in my opinion.
