Candace Parker is Pregnant

Last month, Sacramento authorities reported that Candace Parker, the greatest women's basketball player in the world, eloped with longtime boyfriend/fiancé Shelden Williams, a current Kings back-up. That development hardly affected Parker's on-court status, but this one might: according to European club coach Gundars Vetra, Parker is expecting her first child.

Vetra would know: Parker had been in talks to play for his Russian club (Ekaterinburg) during the WNBA offseason. The apparent pregnancy would, um, prevent that. It will also (I assume) prevent Parker from playing for the L.A. Sparks this season.

And while a discussion on the inherent challenges of professional women's sports is a bit beyond the purview of this post, let it be said that losing an incredible superstar like Parker for a season is a blow for the WNBA. It's the equivalent of Michael Jordan retiring at his peak to play baseball. Hearty congratulations Parker and Williams, nonetheless. They are almost Sacramento's power couple right now, and I've never read a bad word about either.

UPDATE: Confirmed by Parker and the Sparks.

H/T: Deadspin