When Candace Parker stunned the WNBA world by signing with the Las Vegas Aces in free agency, the immediate reaction was that the defending champions would be even better than last season — perhaps even to an unfair extent. Saturday afternoon’s 2023 opener only reinforced those beliefs.
Parker finished with 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and three blocks on four-of-nine from the field in the Aces’ dominant 105-64 win over the Seattle Storm.
In the process, Parker made history when she passed the recently retired Sylvia Fowles for ninth place on the league’s all-time scoring list. Following Saturday’s contest, Parker now has 6,424 career points; that puts her 28 points behind Katie Smith for eighth place, and second only to Diana Taurasi among active players.
While the historical aspect of her performance was cool, the versatility, composure and experience Parker provided on both sides of the ball was more important — certainly in regards to the Aces’ chances of repeating this season.
The Aces are a completely different team with her on the floor compared to Kiah Stokes, who started at the five down the stretch and in the playoffs last season. That should not at all be read as a…
