Oh, baby, she's back! New mom Parker rejoins Sparks on court
"It's going to take a while for Candace to be the Candace Parker who left the court last year. But that's OK. We're going to support her. I know what it's like to feel like the team is waiting on you. But it's important for her to take the time she needs to be at her best."
-- Lisa Leslie, LA Sparks
About four weeks after giving birth to each of my two children, I remember feeling antsy about wanting to work out again.
I had exercised all through my pregnancies and was missing that routine. I was ready to get back to it.
But my doctor told me to cool it, at least until I was six weeks postpartum. She said she didn't recommend physical activity before then.
I was disappointed. But looking back, I can admit now that was good advice.
Starting back on the treadmill and elliptical after giving birth wasn't horrible, but it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be either.
Knowing that, I can't even imagine trying to play in a professional basketball game after just having had a baby.
But that's what Candace Parker will do today.
Just 7½ weeks after giving birth to her first child, and less than a week after attending her first postpartum practice, Parker will suit up for a WNBA game between her Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury (8:30 p.m., NBA TV).
It will be her first competitive game in nearly 10 months.
"I feel great. I feel like I'm really beginning to get my rhythm back," Parker said on Friday after just four days of practice. "I'm not expecting to play 30 minutes, but I definitely can't wait to get back out on the court."
Wow. Talk about impressive.
Now, granted, Parker, the former Naperville Central and Tennessee star, is a world-class athlete who is the WNBA's reigning MVP and rookie of the year. She averaged 18.5 points and a league-leading 9.5 rebounds for the Sparks after leading the United States to a gold medal last summer at the Olympics.
Parker also has age on her side. She gave birth to her daughter Lailaa at age 23. My first child was born when I was 29.
Bouncing back might be easier for a 23-year-old elite athlete.
But note that I said easier- not easy.
Pregnancy takes its toll, at any age. And it often changes a woman's body, sometimes permanently.
WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, Parker's teammate, took the entire 2007 season off after giving birth to her first child.
Chicago Sky guard Jia Perkins has told me that getting back into shape after having her daughter during her senior year in college was difficult. She's in her fifth WNBA season now, but has said that it wasn't until the last year or two in which she began to feel like her old self.
"It's going to take a while for Candace to be the Candace Parker who left the court last year," Leslie said. "But that's OK. We're going to support her. I know what it's like to feel like the team is waiting on you. But it's important for her to take the time she needs to be at her best."
Sounds like Parker is already well on her way there.
Sparks coach Michael Cooper says that besides needing to shed a few pregnancy pounds, Parker looks pretty darn good.
"After watching her practice this week, it looks like she can play some minutes," Cooper said. "It's a huge addition for us. Obviously, she isn't 100 percent and we will take things slowly, but clearly Candace, even at less than 100 percent, is an incredible player."
All smiles
So how does Parker like motherhood?
"It's been the best thing ever," said Parker, who is married to Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves. "My husband and I really enjoy watching our daughter grow. It's amazing how much they change in a short amount of time. She makes me smile every day."
Candace in Chicago
Parker returns to her hometown on July 29 when the Sky hosts the Sparks. At this pace, Parker should be in mid-season form by then.