NewMexiKen mentioned Candace Parker several days ago and has been getting a number of search hits since. It seemed like a little more information was in order. Here it is from The Washington Post, Women’s Basketball Hits New Heights. The article begins:
Midwest City, Okla., March 30 — In the most recent example of the evolution of female athletes, a high school girl did more than just compete against five of the best boys’ high school basketball players in the nation in a slam dunk contest on Monday night.
She defeated them.
Candace Parker, a 6-foot-3 17-year-old from Naperville, Ill., beat a field of competitors that included at least two who could be playing in the National Basketball Association next season.
“I hope 10 years from now this isn’t a big deal,” said Parker, who will play at the University of Tennessee next season. “That would be my dream. That 10 years from now three or four girls enter the dunk contest and it’s not a big deal. It’s not like, ‘Wow, she won.’ I hope that happens.”
Parker achieved her milestone with a final dunk attempt, a right-handed slam that she spiced up by covering her eyes with her left arm during her final few strides toward the basket. The crowd of 5,000 at the Carl Albert High gymnasium — many of whom wore throwback jerseys and bopped to blaring hip-hop throughout the night — cheered wildly as the ball ripped through the net.
The dunk earned 79 out of a possible 80 points from eight judges.
LeBron James won this contest last year.
NewMexiKen has been unable to find a video of the dunk online.