Candace Parker is the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker was named the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday after leading the league in defensive rebounds per game.

Parker has a decorated career in the WNBA and she now can add the highest defensive honor to her resume.

Parker was voted league MVP in 2008 and 2013. She won her first championship in 2016 and was named Finals MVP.

She has played her entire career with the Sparks.

This season, Parker was fully healthy after not being 100 percent in 2019. She reasserted herself as the Sparks’ emotional leader and guided them defensively.

In 30.0 minutes per contest in the 22-game season, Parker:

• Averaged 8.0 defensive rebounds per game
• Averaged 1.2 steals and 1.23 blocks (eighth in the league)
• Notched 13 defensive rebounds twice and at least 10 boards nine times
• Anchored the fourth-best scoring defense in the league and the team with the third-best defensive rating