--- title: "Candace Parker: Unapologetic | 6th Hashtag Sports Awards" description: Global awards recognizing excellence in fan engagement and celebrating creativity across sports marketing, media & entertainment image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic.webp --- Candace Parker: Unapologetic | 6th Hashtag Sports Awards # Candace Parker: Unapologetic [ESPN Films](https://espnpressroom.com/us/media-kits/espn-films/) The 6th Annual Awards Winner ![trophy-icon-silver](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/brand/trophy-icon-silver.svg) - Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging Nominee ✨ - Best Athlete Storytelling - Best Documentary: Long-Form Share [** ](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic#) [** ](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic#) [** ](https://www.hashtagsports.com/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic#) 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. ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic.webp?width=1920&height=1080&name=candace-parker-unapologetic.webp) 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. ![Image](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/awards/shortlist-2024/candace-parker-unapologetic-poster.webp?width=1920&height=1080&name=candace-parker-unapologetic-poster.webp) 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** - [  Watch on ESPN+](https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/6e176279-6f95-4450-a434-671220190cb3/candace-parker-unapologetic) **Featured** - Candace Parker - Pat Summitt - Jemele Hill - Holly Rowe - Ramona Shelburne - Chelsea Gray **Credits** **[Joie Jacoby](https://www.film-45.com/)** Directed By, Executive Producer Film 45 **[Giselle Rodriguez](https://www.film-45.com/)** Produced By Film 45 **[Julie Lilleby](https://www.film-45.com/)** Produced By Film 45 **[Carolyn Hepburn](https://www.espn.com/)** Produced By ESPN Films **[Yeong-A Kim](https://www.film-45.com/)** Edited By Film 45 **[Marcella Serrano](https://www.film-45.com/)** Edited By, Co-Producer Film 45 **[Marsha Cooke](https://www.espn.com/)** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[John Dahl](https://www.espn.com/)** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[Rob King](https://www.espn.com/)** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[Brian Lockhart](https://www.espn.com/)** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[Burke Magnus](https://www.espn.com/)** Executive Producer ESPN Films **[Michael Antinoro](https://www.film-45.com/)** Executive Producer Film 45 **[Max Wagner](https://www.film-45.com/)** Executive Producer Film 45 **[Paige Bethmann](https://www.film-45.com/)** Producer Film 45 **[Yamit Shimonovitz](https://www.film-45.com/)** Director of Photograpy Film 45 **[Jessica Epstein](https://www.film-45.com/)** Story Producer Film 45 **[Camara Rose](https://www.film-45.com/)** Archive Producer Film 45 **[Jason Heilig](https://www.film-45.com/)** Archive Producer Film 45 **[Carson Aune](https://www.film-45.com/)** Music By Film 45 **[Marquis Daisy](https://www.espn.com/)** Senior Producer ESPN Films **[Gentry Kirby](https://www.espn.com/)** Senior Producer ESPN Films **[Catherine Sankey](https://www.espn.com/)** Line Producer ESPN Films **[Gus Navarro](https://www.espn.com/)** Associate Producer ESPN Films **[Maria Delgado](https://www.espn.com/)** Production Manager ESPN Films **[Tom Picard](https://www.espn.com/)** Production Manager ESPN Films **[Jennifer Thorpe](https://www.espn.com/)** Production Manager ESPN Films **[Shelby Boamah](https://www.film-45.com/)** Associate Producer Film 45 **[Haley Sobel](https://www.film-45.com/)** Associate Producer Film 45 **[Sam Sibilsky](https://www.film-45.com/)** Post Production Supervisor Film 45 **[Daniel Duclos](https://www.film-45.com/)** 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.   [![RESERVE SEATS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/834568/c79439a7-e53f-4aa9-9d60-2b68caf80d89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/834568/c79439a7-e53f-4aa9-9d60-2b68caf80d89)