The AP reports: Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper couldn’t help but get a little carried away talking about Candace Parker’s arrival and Lisa Leslie’s return. “This is ‘Showtime’ at its best,” Cooper said, referring to the Los Angeles Lakers teams that won three NBA championships in the 1980s. “This is Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), Magic (Johnson) and (James) Worthy all together.” Parker, the top choice in Wednesday’s WNBA draft and The Associated Press’ player of the year, and Leslie met reporters Friday. Parker joins the Sparks after leading Tennessee to its second consecutive NCAA championship. Leslie, the WNBA’s career scoring and rebounding leader, returns after taking maternity leave last season.
