Candace Parker is the First Female Cover Athlete in NBA 2K History

The celebration surrounding Candace Parker‘s game, and what she’s brought to the WNBA, is long overdue.

Parker will be the first female cover athlete in the history of the NBA 2K franchise, marking the W’s 25th anniversary.

“Everyone is looking at it that it’s impacting little girls, but it’s also impacting little boys and young men and young women and men and women,” Parker said. “I think our game is different than the NBA; now it’s embracing that fact. Now more than ever, fans want to follow the athlete. Through social media, through video games, it’s adding and benefiting the WNBA.”

The two-time WNBA MVP and Chicago Sky forward joins Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncicwho was named the cover athlete of the regular editionLos Angeles Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki, who were recognized as the cover athletes for the NBA’s 75th anniversary edition.

After being snubbed from the 2021 Olympic roster, the two-time gold medalist will be commentating the medal rounds in Tokyo as a studio analyst for NBCUniversal

The WNBA’s 25th anniversary special edition cover featuring Parker will drop on Sep. 10.