Image: NBA2K/2K Games
NBA 2K is a series of basketball video games, released annually since 1999. The games emulate basketball as played in the National Basketball Association – NBA – with the player controlling either a whole team or an individual player. There have been a number of game modes featured in the series, with the career mode being a staple since the 2009 release, NBA 2K10. In the career mode, the focus is on the career of a single basketball player, created by the player, with their abilities being upgraded as they progress along their career. There are also modes allowing the player to play with established NBA teams and players, and starting with NBA 2K20 in 2019, WNBA teams.
Candace Parker, born April 19th, 1986, is a female basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association – WNBA – and is the first woman to be featured on a cover of the NBA 2K series, appearing on one of the special edition covers of the release this year, NBA 2K22. Over the course of her career, she has obtained a number of achievements, with highlights including the following:
- Olympic Gold Medalist in 2008 and 2012
- WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2008 and 2013
- WNBA All-Star five times – in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018
- WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2016
- WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020
People suffer a great deal of discouragement from others, sometimes for pursuing careers that would be suitable for them, and women and girls who may otherwise pursue sporting careers are no exception to this. As well as those who simply don’t pursue these careers, there are those who still choose to do so, but nonetheless have a less enjoyable – perhaps to an extent even miserable – time of it from dealing with such pressures. The hope is that including Candace Parker and other high-achieving women on sports game covers may serve to counter this, as encouragement by showing full proof that women can develop successful careers in sports. For women and girls, this representation may give them, both in their own minds and in discussion with others, a point of reference to demonstrate that this really is possible. With this in mind, it may benefit sports game companies to consider including more women on their game covers and in their games in the future, in order to help encourage more women and girls to continue pursuing their goals of becoming successful sportswomen.
As always, stay defiant!
#TeamDefiant