Candace Parker Husband Story: Shelden Williams Divorce and Marriage to Anna Petrakova
Candace Parker’s husband is a topic that pops up because her personal life has had two very different chapters—one with a former NBA player, and another with the teammate who became her wife. The simple answer is this: Candace Parker was once married to Shelden Williams, and she is now married to Anna (Anya) Petrakova. Along the way, she built a family, handled a very public divorce, and eventually chose a quieter, more private kind of happiness.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Candace Nicole Parker
- Born: April 19, 1986
- Age: 39 (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Height: 6’4″ (193 cm)
- Sport: Basketball (WNBA legend; retired)
- First spouse (ex-husband): Shelden Williams
- Married Shelden Williams: 2008
- Separated: 2016 (publicly reported)
- Current spouse: Anna (Anya) Petrakova
- Married Anna Petrakova: December 2019
- Children: Three
- Daughter: Lailaa Nicole (with Shelden Williams)
- Sons: Airr Larry and Hartt Summitt (with Anna Petrakova)
- Estimated net worth: Around $7 million (approximate)
Short bio (Candace Parker): Candace Parker is one of the most decorated women’s basketball players of all time—an MVP, champion, Olympic gold medalist, and a player who changed how people talk about skill, size, and versatility in the women’s game. She starred at Tennessee, went No. 1 in the WNBA Draft, and became famous for playing every position like it was natural. Off the court, she built a second career in broadcasting and leadership roles in sports, and she has also become a visible figure for authenticity, family life, and showing up as her full self without trying to fit anyone else’s idea of what a sports star “should” be.
Short bio (Shelden Williams): Shelden Williams is a former NBA player best known for his college career at Duke and his years as a professional center/forward in the league. He built a reputation as a defense-first big man and later became most publicly linked to Candace Parker through their marriage and co-parenting of their daughter. Compared to Candace’s superstar spotlight, Shelden’s public profile has been quieter in recent years, with most attention tied to family updates and his role as Lailaa’s father.
Short bio (Anna “Anya” Petrakova): Anna Petrakova (often called Anya) is a former professional basketball player from Russia who played at a high level internationally and later became an assistant coach. She and Candace Parker went from teammates to life partners after years of friendship, and they quietly married before sharing their relationship publicly. Anna is known for keeping a low-drama, supportive presence while raising their children and building a steady family life with Candace away from the constant noise of public speculation.
Who Was Candace Parker’s Husband?
Candace Parker’s ex-husband is Shelden Williams, a former NBA player. They married in 2008, at a time when both were high-profile athletes and the relationship felt like a basketball power couple moment. The marriage later ended, with the separation publicly reported in 2016.
If you’ve ever felt confused by headlines that call someone her “husband” while other articles call someone else her “wife,” you’re not alone. A lot of websites don’t update their wording or timelines cleanly. The most accurate way to frame it is: Shelden Williams was her husband in her first marriage, and Anna Petrakova is her spouse today.
How Candace Parker and Shelden Williams Got Together
Back then, the relationship made sense in a way people instantly understood. Two athletes. Two careers built on discipline. Two people who lived inside the same world of travel, training, and pressure. They knew what it meant to be tired, sore, and still expected to deliver. They also knew what it meant to have strangers treat your life like a public debate.
When they married in 2008, Candace was rising fast in the WNBA, and Shelden had already established himself as a recognizable name from Duke and the NBA. Their marriage became part of the sports conversation because fans love a neat narrative—especially one that looks like “they understand each other perfectly.”
But athletes don’t automatically have easier marriages. In some ways, it can be harder. Two careers means two schedules, two pressures, and two sets of goals that don’t always line up.
Their Daughter Lailaa and the Center of the Family
Candace and Shelden share a daughter, Lailaa Nicole. In Candace’s world, motherhood has never been a side note. It has always been a core part of who she is. If you follow her interviews over the years, you can feel that “mom first” energy even when she’s talking about championships.
That matters because when a marriage ends, the story doesn’t end. Co-parenting becomes the long game. And for public figures, co-parenting also happens under a microscope. People project onto the parents, take sides, and act like they know what happened behind closed doors. Meanwhile, the real job is quieter: protect the child, keep the routine stable, and make sure the adult conflict doesn’t become the kid’s burden.
From the outside, the most consistent public impression has been that Candace stayed focused on protecting her daughter’s sense of normal, even while her own life was being discussed publicly.
The Separation and Divorce
In 2016, Candace and Shelden’s separation became public. The stated public framing was the typical legal language you see in many celebrity divorces, but the emotional reality is usually more complicated than a sentence on paper. The truth is, long marriages can break down slowly. It’s rarely one single moment. It’s the accumulation of small misalignments—time apart, stress, priorities shifting, and the relationship no longer feeling like the best home for both people.
For Candace, this period also overlapped with major career transitions and high-level demands. When you’re performing at the top of your sport and trying to keep family life stable, something eventually has to give. And for many couples, the relationship becomes the place where the strain shows first.
What’s notable is that Candace didn’t turn the divorce into a public spectacle. She moved forward in a way that looked intentional—focused on her child, her career, and the kind of peace you can’t buy.
So Who Is Candace Parker Married to Now?
Candace Parker is married to Anna (Anya) Petrakova. Their relationship is one of the more interesting love stories in sports because it didn’t begin with flashy headlines. It began with proximity, friendship, and time.
They met through basketball circles and became close while playing overseas. That detail matters because overseas seasons can create a unique kind of bond. You’re far from home, living in a different rhythm, and leaning on teammates in a deeper way than a typical “work friend” situation. Friendship can deepen fast when life is that intense.
Over time, that friendship became something more. What many fans find touching about their story is that it wasn’t framed as a sudden whirlwind. It was described more like a slow realization—one that made Candace rethink what love was “supposed” to look like, and what she actually needed.
The Quiet Wedding in 2019
Candace and Anna married in December 2019 and kept the marriage private at first. That choice makes sense if you think about what Candace had already lived through. Public relationships can become a public sport. People judge, speculate, and turn intimate decisions into headlines.
For some couples, the healthiest decision is to build the foundation first and let the public find out later. That’s what they did. When they eventually shared their marriage and growing family news, it felt less like a publicity moment and more like a personal milestone they were finally ready to own publicly.
Building a Family With Anna Petrakova
After marrying, Candace and Anna expanded their family. They welcomed two sons—Airr Larry and Hartt Summitt—creating a household that includes three kids total, including Lailaa.
This part of Candace’s story shows a softer kind of leadership. On the court, she was a leader through dominance and versatility. At home, leadership looks like structure, patience, and protecting your family from the world’s noise. A blended family also requires extra care. You’re not just managing a couple’s emotions—you’re managing a whole ecosystem of children with different ages, needs, and experiences.
From what has been shared publicly, it’s clear the goal is stability and togetherness. That may sound simple, but it’s the hardest thing to maintain when you’re famous and the internet tries to pull your life apart for entertainment.
Why the “Husband” Search Term Still Comes Up
Even though Candace is married to a woman, people still search “Candace Parker husband” for a few practical reasons:
- Older articles about her marriage to Shelden Williams still circulate and get reposted.
- Some databases and quick bios don’t update fast, so “husband” remains in headlines.
- Many fans discovered her story in different eras and are trying to connect the timeline.
- People often use “husband” as a default search word, even when someone has a wife.
The real answer is that both names matter in her life story, just in different ways: Shelden as her ex-husband and co-parent, and Anna as her current spouse and family partner.
Candace Parker’s Career Growth and What It Means for Her Home Life
One reason Candace’s relationships draw attention is because her career has been so big it feels like it should swallow everything else. She wasn’t just a star. She was the kind of player people used to explain the sport to new fans. She made highlights that forced mainstream audiences to pay attention.
After retirement, her career didn’t slow down—it shifted. Broadcasting, leadership roles, brand work, and being a visible voice for women’s sports kept her busy in a different way. The challenge is that “busy” still affects a marriage, even when the job changes.
That’s why her relationship with Anna reads as especially grounded. Anna understands the athlete world from the inside, but she isn’t competing for the same spotlight. That balance—two people who get the life, but don’t need the same kind of attention—can be powerful.
Net Worth and How Candace Parker Earns Off the Court
Candace Parker’s estimated net worth is around $7 million, give or take, depending on how different estimates count endorsements, media deals, and long-term investments. While her WNBA salary was only one piece of the puzzle, her real earning power has always been in the full package: star reputation, longevity, endorsement appeal, and post-career opportunities.
- WNBA earnings: long career with top-tier status and major team roles
- Endorsements: brand relationships built on being a recognizable, trusted name
- Broadcasting and media: consistent work that keeps her visible beyond playing
- Leadership roles: executive-style positions that expand her impact and income
For elite athletes, the real financial difference often comes after playing—when your name becomes a long-term brand instead of a game-by-game paycheck. Candace has clearly built that kind of lasting platform.
Where the Story Lands Today
Candace Parker’s “husband” story is really a life story about growth. She had a first marriage with Shelden Williams that produced her daughter and shaped an early adult chapter. She then found a deeper, quieter partnership with Anna Petrakova—one built through friendship, shared experience, and a decision to live more truthfully.
Now, the picture looks less like a headline and more like a home: three kids, a spouse who understands the athlete life, and a retired legend still shaping the sport from the outside. It’s not a perfect fairytale, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s real, and it keeps moving forward.
image source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/candace-parker-wnba-retirement-rcna149709
