Tennessee's Parker wins Wooden Award

LOS ANGELES - Candace Parker completed her own version of the triple crown.

Parker captured the John R. Wooden Award on Saturday, becoming the youngest women's player to win the award.

A redshirt sophomore, the 20-year-old Parker led Tennessee to its seventh national championship Tuesday night, scoring 17 points in a 59-46 victory over Rutgers.

Parker, who also was named the Most Outstanding Players of the Final Four, earned her first major honor on March 31 when she won the Wade Trophy.

The 6-4 Parker averaged 19.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in leading the Lady Vols to a 34-3 record.

"I want to thank the John R. Wooden committee, my teammates, coaches, family and opponents," Parker said. "This is such an honor. I am so blessed to be a part of women's basketball and its growth."

Parker had to beat out a stellar field of finalists, including Naismith Award winner Lindsey Harding of Duke, sophomore center Courtney Paris of Oklahoma, senior point guard Ivory Latta of North Carolina and junior center Sylvia Fowles of Louisiana State.

Parker is the first woman to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game, accomplishing the feat twice against Army in a first-round game in 2006.

A native of Naperville, Illinois, and one of the most highly publicized recruits in women's basketball history, Parker already holds school single-season records for blocked shots (99), free throws attempted (232) and free throws made (166).