Seven years ago, headlines buzzed about an unusual twist in celebrity divorce proceedings. Candace Parker, already established as one of the WNBA’s brightest stars, paid a substantial $400,000 alimony settlement to her ex-husband Shelden Williams, a former NBA lottery pick.
Inside the Divorce Drama
The arrangement raised eyebrows not because of the amount, but because it represented a successful woman supporting her former spouse — a narrative that challenged traditional expectations about gender and financial power in professional sports.
Williams, selected fifth overall in the 2006 NBA draft, had earned more than $12 million during his six-year professional basketball career.
Yet Parker’s ascending trajectory in women’s basketball had positioned her as the higher earner by the time of the divorce, leading to the uncommon alimony arrangement when their marriage ended in 2018.
According to TMZ, the former couple, who married in 2008, agreed to joint custody of their daughter while dividing assets from their $3.75 million Encino home sale.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Parker’s career has reached unprecedented heights.
“I’ve learned a great deal and leaned on a lot of people, but I’m excited about what we’re doing and what our plans are for the next 11 months,” Parker recently reflected on her transition from player to executive, Andscape reports.
Adding, “When you’re doing something that you love and you’re around people that you are absolutely obsessed with and love and genuinely can’t wait for them to win – it inspires me every single day.”
The three-time WNBA champion announced her retirement in April 2024 after 16 legendary seasons, immediately transitioning into roles that cement her influence beyond the court.
In May 2025, Amazon Prime Video tapped Parker as a studio analyst for both NBA and WNBA games, joining an elite broadcast team that includes Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, and Udonis Haslem for the streaming service’s inaugural NBA coverage season, according to Reuters.
Simultaneously, Adidas elevated Parker to president of women’s basketball in May 2024, where her executive responsibilities span talent acquisition, brand development, and content creation.
Parker’s executive influence extends into the high school landscape, where she’s pioneering new athlete development approaches. Last November, under her leadership, Adidas announced their first NIL signing for high school girls basketball, securing 16-year-old Kaleena Smith, currently ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2027.
The Los Angeles Sparks released a press release that stated they will honor Parker’s extraordinary career by retiring her No. 3 jersey on June 29, making her only the third player in franchise history to receive this distinction alongside Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler.
Parker will also see the publication of her book, “The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions,” in June.
That $400,000 alimony payment now appears less like an unusual expense and more like an investment in freedom — financial and professional autonomy that seems to have enabled Parker to build an empire spanning media, corporate leadership, and cultural influence extending far beyond any single basketball court.
