WNBA legend Candace Parker talks new trading card venture and the future of women’s hoops

The GIST: As the WNBA reaches new heights on and off the court, we chatted with basketball icon Candace Parker about her latest gig — curating a hoops trading card collection with eBay — and her vision for the W’s future as the popularity of women’s basketball continues to surge. Hooptastic.

Note: Candace’s responses have been lightly edited for space and clarity.

Q: One of the coolest things about this launch is that all of the moments used for the cards were hand-picked by you — how did you sort through all the incredible hoops moments and settle on the milestones you did?

I knew the moments that were meaningful to me both as a player and as a fan, and in my role as an analyst, I get to combine the two with experienced eyes. Ultimately, I selected a mix of veterans and rising stars that I think showcase the breadth of the talent from our sport.

Q: What do you think about the direction that women’s basketball is heading, both on and off the court?

It’s great for sports in general to see the demand for women’s basketball grow and expand. The best part of it though has been seeing and hearing the conversations happen everywhere you look. I don’t just mean on big network TV, I mean at bars, on the train, at work. People are talking about and engaging with the players at a level we haven’t seen before.

Q: What does it mean to you knowing you’ve influenced a generation of young women as one of the best players to ever play the game, but also as an analyst?

I think of how I looked up to the hoopers before me — Cheryl Miller, Teresa Weatherspoon, Sheryl Swoopes, and others. I’ve always said I wanted to leave the game better than I found it, and I hope I accomplished that.

• I was fortunate enough to be an NBA analyst toward the end of my career. It’s important for kids to see someone who looks like them talking about the game. It doesn’t matter if it’s the men’s game or the women’s game — girls should know they can do anything.

Q: If you were writing “the script,” what would the WNBA look like in 10 years?

The script I would write is for it to keep growing! I know the players in the league right now are working to ensure that happens. I’m doing my part, too, with moments like “Gametime Gets.” As the growth continues, and with the spike we’ve seen the last few years, people are eager to continue that momentum.