Candace Parker Reveals Wife Anya Petrakova’s Pregnancy

Candace Parker, one of the star players of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, is expecting a child with her wife of two years, Anya Petrakova.

Parker revealed the pregnancy in an Instagram post celebrating her two-year anniversary to Petrakova. In a long and emotional caption, Parker wrote, “Thank you for always loving Lailaa as your own, being my calm, my support, my voice of reason, my laughs, my cuddles, my dance in the rain… Thanks for constantly challenging me and telling me when I’m wrong.”

Parker has a daughter, Lailaa, 12, with her ex-husband Shelden Williams. And Lailaa joined the Petrakova and Parker for some of the family shots in the post.

While exclaiming her excitement for a baby on the way, Parker also joked that Petrakova has been understanding of her need to “play Jay-Z for the baby,” and wrote she “can’t wait to embark on this next chapter in life with you!”

Parker first rose to prominence in the NCAA and was the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Parker played primarily for the Sparks until 2020 and was named MVP in 2016 when she and the Sparks won the WNBA Championship.

Parker returned to her hometown of Chicago to play for the Chicago Sky in 2021 and helped the team win its first-ever WNBA Championship that very season. The Sky beat the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals 3 to 1.

According to the WNBA, its 2022 Season will commence on Friday, May 6, and conclude on Sunday, Aug 14. The season will have 36 games, the most the league has ever played.