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Former WNBA superstar Candace Parker analyzed the 2024 WNBA semifinal series between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty and she is admiring how the Liberty is taking the Las Vegas Aces out of their comfort zone.
Parker, who played for Tennessee in the NCAA, discussed the playoff series during the latest episode of the "Best of Both Worlds with Flau'jae" podcast that was posted on YouTube on Oct. 4.
She told host, rapper, and LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson that New York has Las Vegas on its knees in the first two games of the playoffs due to their excellent play anchored on key stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
"Stewie (Stewart) is ridiculous, look at what Sabrina is doing playing the ball. I mean it feels like their role players are doing great. (Leonie) Fiebich she's 6-3, (she) can stretch the floor, can guard (and) they can switch. So New York is doing a really good job of taking Vegas out of the things they like to do, Parker said. [12:43-13:03]
However, the two-time WNBA MVP pointed out that the Aces have been resilient and were able to keep the game close despite being outplayed by the Liberty.
She felt that the first two games should have been blowouts for New York if not for Las Vegas showing their championship poise.
Candace Parker talks physicality in the WNBA
During the podcast, Flau'jae Johnson told Candace Parker that she has been observing how the current WNBA is played when it comes to physicality.
She felt that she needs to work out and increase her weight after college to keep in step with the players and avoid being pushed around when she gets a chance to play.
Parker disagreed and felt that Johnson's body is okay for the WNBA. However, she just felt that during the regular season, the players aren't allowed to play with contact and they'll get a flagrant foul if they violate the rules.
The sports commentator pointed out that this changes during the playoffs with the physicality level going up several notches and players aren't being called for weak fouls.
Candace Parker played for three seasons with the Volunteers and averaged 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
She led Tennessee to two NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008 and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player on both occasions.
Parker was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 WNBA draft and played for 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and the Las Vegas Aces before retiring last year.
