It’s not easy growing up as the child of basketball royalty—especially when your mom is the Candace Parker, WNBA legend and human trophy case. But Lailaa Williams? She’s not just living in her mother’s shadow—she’s spiking it right back in the face of those comparisons. At just 15 years old, Lailaa’s already making a name for herself, not on the basketball court (because, let’s face it, those are some huge shoes to fill), but on the volleyball court as a middle blocker at Campbell Hall High School in California.
Born on May 13, 2009, Lailaa is Parker’s eldest child, from her marriage to former NBA player Shelden Williams (yep, two pro-athlete parents…no pressure, right?). While Candace was out there breaking ankles and dunking on WNBA defenders, Lailaa was busy developing her own sporting passions—thankfully, volleyball doesn’t involve getting dunked on, but it does require some fierce blocking. And from what we’re hearing, she’s already pretty good at that.
Parker, who retired after 16 years of being an absolute WNBA beast, is doing what any supportive mom does—showing up to every game, cheering on her daughter, and of course, posting proud mom moments all over her Instagram. Recently, she shared an ESPNW feature on Lailaa, because nothing says “proud parent” quite like broadcasting your kid’s achievements to millions of followers. After all, what’s the point of a mom flex if it doesn’t go viral?
Candace’s own career was a slam dunk, to say the least—three WNBA championships, two MVPs, seven All-Star selections—it’s basically her résumé that causes every aspiring baller to break a sweat just looking at it. But instead of trying to mirror her mom’s basketball greatness, Lailaa is crafting her own legacy. And frankly, it’s refreshing.
Of course, having Candace Parker as a mom means Lailaa has spent her life rubbing elbows with basketball greatness. Candace brought her everywhere—from Chicago to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. Lailaa didn’t just have front-row seats to her mom’s games, she was practically the team’s unofficial mascot. As Candace fondly reminisced in her ESPN documentary, Candace Parker: Unapologetic (because when you’re that good, you don’t apologize for it), Lailaa was with her for every career-defining moment. Apparently, the entire team agreed that if Candace came, Lailaa was part of the package deal. Sounds like the kid had courtside perks that even Drake would envy.
Now retired, Candace is busy being a full-time mom and hype woman. The two even went on an unofficial visit to Tennessee recently, where Candace famously dominated in her college days. Candace must’ve been secretly praying that her daughter would hear the echoes of her past triumphs and suddenly feel the itch for hoops. But for now, it’s all about the volleyball net, and Lailaa seems determined to forge her own path. Who needs basketballs when you can spike a volleyball at 60 mph?
In the end, Lailaa Williams is more than just “Candace Parker’s daughter.” She’s a rising volleyball star with her own set of skills and aspirations. With the athletic genes she’s inherited, the sky—or perhaps the net—is the limit for her.
So, while Candace Parker might be hanging up her basketball shoes for good, the Parker-Williams legacy is far from over. And as for Lailaa? Well, let’s just say volleyball fans better get used to seeing the name Williams on the highlight reels. She’s coming for the crown, but this time it’s volleyballs, not basketballs, flying through the air.
