Think of this as Mombian: The Weekend Sports Edition:
ESPN the Magazine’s cover story this month features WNBA superstar Candace Parker, with her hands cupping the round curve of . . . her pregnant stomach. It’s a striking picture for a magazine that rarely has females of any sort on the cover.
The article asks, “Can Candace Parker be the female Jordan?” meaning not only in her basketball skills but also in her marketing appeal. Can women athletes be marketed as athletes, not just sex symbols? Can they take time off for a pregnancy and return to an athletic career and motherhood?
Parker says:
“The baby will be along for the ride, with me on trips, at the court.” She sighs. “You don’t hear about male players doing that, do you? Women, we just have to balance more things. It’s harder for us. That’s just the way it is.” She offers a weary smile before adding, “For now.”
Parker is, of course, treading ground that moms and ball players like Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie have trod before her. Whether Parker’s record will stand up to theirs in the long term remains to be seen. She has yet only one professional season to her credit. One advantage she has that they didn’t however, is that she is entering an already established league, with a few more years of public awareness about women’s professional sports.
The article does start with a mention of Parker’s bra size, which seems gratuitous, but most of the article is about how she’s been able to capitalize on her success “by selling her game, not her body.” I’ll allow the writer a catchy lead for what is really a more balanced article.
The print magazine includes a chart of five women athletes who returned to competition—and victories—after motherhood: Leslie, swimmer Dara Torres, runner Paula Radcliffe, tennis player Lindsay Davenport, and softball pitcher Jennie Finch. It doesn’t seem like motherhood has slowed them down at all.
It’s a good read in a publication I’m guessing most of us don’t read regularly. (Which brings us to the issue of women’s sports and media coverage, but that’s a whole other post . . . .)
Excellent article Dana — thanks for sharing. Don’t get ESPN magazine so I would’ve missed this otherwise. I am a huge Candace fan & when I saw her play in the Final Four & NCAA Championship game last year in Tampa in person it was utterly amazing.