Candace Parker: Unapologetic
The 6th Annual Awards
- Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging
- Best Athlete Storytelling
- Best Documentary: Long-Form
ABOUT THIS ENTRY
In the wide-ranging, revealing, intimate film Candace Parker: Unapologetic, the women’s basketball icon opens up about her journey through basketball and life, and where she might go from here. The documentary features rare behind-the-scenes access during Parker’s 2022 season while tracing the arc of her story from her childhood in Illinois to her storied pro career, while chronicling her journey through motherhood, divorce, a second marriage, and the growing of her family.
How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”?
The successes of Candace Parker: Unapologetic prove that strategies applied to male athletes for years at ESPN can be applied to female athletes with similar success. Much like Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, and Tom Brady before her, Candace Parker was able to drive engagement around her story across multiple platforms. These results can inspire the industry to celebrate iconic female athletes, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and Black women/excellence. Additionally, this story of a queer Black woman was directed by a Black woman, produced by women of Latina and Indigenous heritage, with a female Middle Eastern cinematographer, and a Latina editor, all guided by a Black female executive producer at ESPN. With extraordinary female filmmakers of color in leading above-the-line creative roles, the commitment to authenticity is evident throughout, and reflected in the genuine voice in every frame.
Objective
When we learned Candace Parker was willing to give us access to her life—professionally and personally—we understood the rare privilege of the opportunity. We knew Parker’s story as a WNBA phenom would be entertaining, but in this film she takes it a step further and shares her most intimate moments during a pivotal window of her life. She never kept her sexuality a secret, but now she was gearing up to proactively share with her audience who she was in love with—her wife, Anya Parker.
We hope that showing Candace living her authentic life—including its open and honest challenges—will ignite the courage in others to find the strength to live their own truths. She’s a champion not because she always wins (though she does very very often)—but because she shows up for herself time and again.
This film aims to continue filling the well of empowering stories particularly for women, women of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Her life exemplifies how conviction and discipline are necessary for continued success. And her story challenges stereotypes and inspires a broader dialogue on diversity and inclusion in sports and beyond.
Strategy & Execution
Modern sports fans appreciate stories that go beyond the sport. Our documentary does just that. It takes a deeper, more nuanced look at a famous life - more than a sports film, it’s also a human interest story that touches upon gender equality, motherhood, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. This broader narrative approach provides multiple entry points of personal connection, and reflects the kaleidoscopic social consciousness of contemporary audiences. The film attains the perfect balance of breaking ground in these realms - and remaining an engaging, entertaining trip through a decorated basketball life.
Organizations
- ESPN Films
- Film 45
Links
Featured
- Candace Parker
- Pat Summitt
- Jemele Hill
- Holly Rowe
- Ramona Shelburne
- Chelsea Gray
Credits
Joie Jacoby
Directed By, Executive Producer
Film 45
Giselle Rodriguez
Produced By
Film 45
Julie Lilleby
Produced By
Film 45
Carolyn Hepburn
Produced By
ESPN Films
Yeong-A Kim
Edited By
Film 45
Marcella Serrano
Edited By, Co-Producer
Film 45
Marsha Cooke
Executive Producer
ESPN Films
John Dahl
Executive Producer
ESPN Films
Rob King
Executive Producer
ESPN Films
Brian Lockhart
Executive Producer
ESPN Films
Burke Magnus
Executive Producer
ESPN Films
Michael Antinoro
Executive Producer
Film 45
Max Wagner
Executive Producer
Film 45
Paige Bethmann
Producer
Film 45
Yamit Shimonovitz
Director of Photograpy
Film 45
Jessica Epstein
Story Producer
Film 45
Camara Rose
Archive Producer
Film 45
Jason Heilig
Archive Producer
Film 45
Carson Aune
Music By
Film 45
Marquis Daisy
Senior Producer
ESPN Films
Gentry Kirby
Senior Producer
ESPN Films
Catherine Sankey
Line Producer
ESPN Films
Gus Navarro
Associate Producer
ESPN Films
Maria Delgado
Production Manager
ESPN Films
Tom Picard
Production Manager
ESPN Films
Jennifer Thorpe
Production Manager
ESPN Films
Shelby Boamah
Associate Producer
Film 45
Haley Sobel
Associate Producer
Film 45
Sam Sibilsky
Post Production Supervisor
Film 45
Daniel Duclos
Post Production Supervisor
Film 45
Celebrate in NYC
Join us for the 6th Annual Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 6, 2024 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.
