By DOUG FEINBERG
By DOUG FEINBERG
Associated Press
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Candace Parker put on a show in her All-Star debut.
Parker scored a record 23 points to lead the West to a 102-98 victory over the East on Saturday.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Parker said. “I hadn’t been to one, and this was really special. Being with all these great players and share stories, that’s why I’ll remember from this All-Star game more than what happened on the court.”
The Los Angeles Sparks star was voted a starter for the 2011 game, but couldn’t play because of a knee injury. She also missed the 2009 game because she was still recovering from the birth of her daughter.
“Things happen,” Parker said. “I learned not to question them and go on my path and take whatever comes. It happened to work out this way.”
The wait was worth it as Parker, who earned the game’s MVP honors.
While the award was special, Parker and her West teammates were more excited that got the victory for retiring star Tina Thompson.
“We didn’t want her to go out with a loss,” said Parker, who was quickly heading back to Los Angeles after the game to get to a family reunion that she was hosting.
Thompson, who made her record ninth All-Star appearance, announced her retirement at the end of the season. She had a rough game missing all five of her attempts from the field, but still enjoyed the moment.
West coach Cheryl Reeve put her back in the lineup with a few seconds left to get one final ovation from the fans.
Parker’s stellar game helped the league overcome the loss of Brittney Griner and top vote-getter Elena Delle Donne, who sat out because of injuries. The pair have been an attendance and ratings boon for the league.
Griner has missed Phoenix’s last five games with a sprained left knee and Delle Donne suffered a concussion in Chicago’s game Wednesday. They were poised to make history as the first pair of rookies from the same class to start the WNBA All-Star game.
But Griner sat on the bench, while Delle Donne recovered at home in Delaware.