Candace Parker to miss an undetermined number of games at the start of WNBA season

From the Sparks:

The Los Angeles Sparks announced Candace Parker will miss an undetermined number of games at the start of the 2015 season in order to be 100 percent healthy before joining the team on the court.

“This was a decision Candace made that she felt was in the best interest of her health and in the best interest of the team,” said Sparks executive vice president and general manager Penny Toler.  “Our goal has always been to win another championship, and having a healthy and rested Candace Parker will undoubtedly help us down the stretch.  We are confident in our returning core leaders, WNBA champions and international stars that will lead the Sparks. When Candace is ready, she will return to the court healthy and rested to help the Sparks in our quest to win the 2015 title.”

The No. 1 pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker has played her entire seven-year career in Los Angeles.  In 2008, she became the first WNBA player to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year award in the same season.  A two-time WNBA MVP (2008,2013), three-time WNBA All-Star (2011,2013,2014), including 2013 All-Star MVP, and a three-time All-WNBA First Team selection (2012,2013,2014), Parker has also won two Olympic Gold medals as a member of Team USA (2008, 2012).

Through 179 career games (176 starts) with the Sparks, she holds averages of 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 32.0 minutes per game.  Among the league’s all-time leaders, she ranks 9th in scoring (17.7 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (9.0 rpg) and blocks (1.96 bpg).  Last season, she led the Sparks in scoring (19.4 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and tied for second in rebounds, averaging 7.1 per game.  In addition to playing for the Sparks and Team USA, Parker has played five WNBA offseasons with UMMC Ekaterinburg.

The Los Angeles Sparks tip-off its 2015 WNBA home schedule on vs. the Seattle Storm at Staples Center.