For the first time in the history of NBA 2K, a female basketball player will be gracing the cover of the video game. On the front of every copy of WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition, Chicago Sky star forward Candace Parker will be prominently displayed.
On Wednesday, 2K Sports announced that Parker will cover the game's WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition, while Mavericks guard Luka Dončić will be featured on the game's Standard Edition. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant will all be showcased on the cover of the game's NBA 75th Anniversary Edition.
"I'm honored to work with a company that's investing in women and betting on us to succeed," the 35-year-old baller said.
Parker is a 2-time league MVP, 6-time All-Star, 2-time NCAA champion, WNBA champion, and a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Her WNBA career began in 2008, when she was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks after zestfully leading the University of Tennessee's basketball team to a string of victories.
Extremely proud and humbled to be the first female cover athlete in the history of @NBA2K
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) July 14, 2021
I’m honored to work with a company that’s investing in women and betting on us to succeed. I’m hopeful there will be many more badass females to follow 💪🏽💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/WJan4YE7Qt
"I grew up a video game fanatic," Parker said in a statement. "As a kid growing up, you dream of having your own shoe and dream of being in a video game. Those are an athlete as a kid's dreams. To be able to experience that, I don't take it lightly."All editions of the game are set to be released on September 10.
Huge honor to be on the cover of #NBA2K22. Thanks @NBA2K! pic.twitter.com/ptIhpVNUdN
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) July 14, 2021
75 years since the NBA was born\n 3 legends of their era\n\nIntroducing our #NBA2K22 75th Anniversary Cover Athletes @KDTrey5 @swish41 @kaj33 \n\nPre-order now https://nba.2k.com/buy\u00a0pic.twitter.com/3ZrU9NlZ1i— NBA 2K (@NBA 2K) 1626271232