Rick Barnes, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team, recently shared a hilarious and joyous story about former Lady Vols legend Candace Parker.
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Tennessee’s Rick Barnes Gets Candid About Candace Owens
During a four-hour basketball banquet, Barnes and Parker played a furious game of Hangman, an ordinary yet competitive word game. Barnes told the story of the incident with passion, showing Parker’s constant competitive spirit, even in the most unusual environments.
Tennessee HC Rick Barnes shares a funny story about playing Hangman with Candace Parker during a four-hour basketball banquet 😂 pic.twitter.com/o1gsdZ8qZo
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 7, 2025
Parker is widely regarded as one of the finest women’s basketball players of all time. She guided the Lady Vols to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008 under famous coach Pat Summitt.
Her supremacy on the court, combined with her leadership and flexibility, established herself as an all-time great in college basketball.
Barnes’ story concerning Parker underscores the friendship and close bonds between Tennessee’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.
Parker’s popularity continues to encourage fresh talent, and her connection to Tennessee athletics lingers long after her college days.
Parker is currently concentrating on expanding women’s basketball in addition to her achievements in college. She recently collaborated in a high-profile campaign to bring a WNBA expansion team to Nashville, Tennessee.
The proposed franchise, the Tennessee Summitt, is named after the late Pat Summitt, one of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball history.
About the WNBA expansion, Parker states:
“Tennessee is the DNA of everything women’s basketball stands for. I’m excited to be part of the group working to bring a WNBA team to the state and honor Coach Summitt’s legacy.”
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This project reflects Parker’s continuous dedication to advancing the sport and conserving Tennessee’s great basketball tradition.
Barnes’ amusing story about Parker acts as a reminder of her enduring influence on the University of Tennessee and basketball.
Parker’s passion for the game ensures that her legacy — and Summitt’s — will live on for years to come as Tennessee remains a hub of basketball supremacy.
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