The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 24-year-old star of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, who won two NCAA titles at Tennessee and an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
Q: Your daughter Lailaa turns 1 May 13.
A: She is always into everything. She gives you the smile when she knows she’s not supposed to be doing something and blows you a kiss. She truly is my heart, my world. I don’t remember life before her. She truly is a blessing.
Q: Motherhood?
A: There’s nothing like being a mother. It changes your perspective on everything. I feel like I’m a better daughter and a better everything because I’m a mother. There’s no love like the love for a child.
Q: Your mother?
A: My mother is Miss Personality. She talks to everybody. Strangers don’t exist in her world. She’s loving and will do anything for her kids.
Q: Her funny faces?
A: Every day when I was in elementary school, she’d make my lunch. Every day on the lunch pail, she’d put a note in there, or on the bag, would write this specific face — a wink face, one of the eyes opened, the other one closed, with the tongue sticking out. She’s always say, “I love you . . .love mommy,” and write that face.
Q: Your husband, Shelden Williams (Celtics), is in the playoffs against your brother, Anthony Parker (Cavaliers).
A: I always tell everybody I root for the winner (chuckles). How many times are you going to have your brother on one team and your husband on the other team? I just look at it as a win-win.
Q: You met LeBron at the Naismith banquet. Will he leave the Cavs for the Knicks?
A: I have no idea to be honest with you. I think it’s tough to put yourself in LeBron’s shoes. Everybody has a dream city they would play in if they could. I was telling Shelden (Tuesday), Cleveland’s arena . . . the fans, the music, everybody gets hyped, all the fans are into the game . . . it’s a very exciting place. He would really have to love and want to play in New York to leave it.
Q: How did you meet your husband?
A: We actually met on my recruiting visit (to Duke). I joke and tell everybody he’s the reason why I didn’t go to Duke (chuckles).
Q: How did he propose?
A: We were in Atlanta, at the Sun Dial restaurant overlooking the city, and he popped the question.
Q: Did he get on his knees?
A: Yes he did!
Q: The pressure of being the face of the WNBA?
A: I don’t really feel that. Every place that I’ve gone, I’ve had expectations placed on me, dating back to birth — “She’s gonna play basketball” and everything like that. My dad (former Iowa basketball player Larry Parker) taught me you should have the highest expectations of yourself.
Q: Have you encountered any jealousy?
A: I try not to pay attention to it. It’s hard to say what’s jealousy and what’s people’s opinion.
Q: Three best basketball moments?
A: Winning the high school state championship . . .winning the NCAA championship (at Tennessee) . . . and the third one would be winning the Olympic gold medal. As a kid, you dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, and representing your country, and standing there on the podium and getting a gold medal around your neck is a breathtaking experience. You almost break down in tears. You almost try to pause that moment.
Q: You’ve always been motivated by doubters. What are they doubting now?
A: My jumpshot, and whether I can shoot, brings me to the gym every day. I haven’t won a WNBA championship. My goal has been to win a championship at every level. I learned at a very young age that championships can’t be taken away.
Q: Your former L.A. Sparks coach Michael Cooper compared your game with (former Laker teammate) Magic Johnson’s.
A: I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t watch him and tried some of the moves he did.
Q: What struck you about Magic’s game?
A: His court vision. Being able to see the floor and get the best shot. I remember watching Magic play, and what struck me the most is it seemed like he brought his personality onto the court. He led by example. I never liked leaders who always yelled and screamed.
Q: Cheryl Miller?
A: I heard Reggie Miller a couple of weeks ago challenge me and my brother to a two-on-two. I’m going to talk to him and see if Anthony’s gonna do that. . . . Cheryl Miller was way before her time in terms of she was a big player who could handle the ball, could shoot, could do all that. . . . Even though you’re big and tall, you don’t have to stand by the basket. She did a great job evolving the game before it was ready to evolve.
Q: (Legendary Tennessee coach) Pat Summitt?
A: A huge inspiration to me. She is women’s basketball. She took me from being a girl and made me into a woman.
Q: Lisa Leslie’s retirement?
A: She was the one who kinda took the little rookie under her wing. I learned more off the court about how to handle myself being an athlete, being a mother, being a wife.
Q: Jennifer Gillom, the new coach of the Sparks?
A: She’s a player’s coach. I remember watching her play. I hear nothing but good things about her.
Q: How good will the Sparks be?
A: The sky’s the limit for our team.
Q: The New York Liberty?
A: I have always had fun playing in Madison Square Garden . . . there’s so much history there . . . it’s going to be a great season for them.
Q: Are they a championship contender?
A: I definitely think so.
Q: What is it like being Candace Parker?
A: I feel very blessed being in the situation I’m in, in terms of having the ability to travel to different places and experience different things, and also the relationships I’ve been able to have as a result of basketball. I’m blessed to be in the situation I’m in as a daughter, a mother, a sister and a wife.