In the 20 days leading up to the 20th annual WNBA Draft, WNBA.com and @WNBA are highlighting the first 19 No. 1 overall picks and their place in league history. Our 20-day countdown continues with Candace Parker, the first selection in the 2008 WNBA Draft.

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With the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, the Los Angeles Sparks selected guard/forward/center Candace Parker less than 24 hours after Parker capped off her collegiate career by leading the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to their second straight NCAA title.

She became the first (and only) WNBA player to be named Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season. She joined Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) and Wes Unseld (1969-70) as the only other American pro basketball players to accomplish that feat.

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In addition to winning NCAA National Player of the Year, an NCAA title, WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP, Parker was also a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Beijing. Parker also won gold with the Team USA in 2012 in London.

What would Parker do for a follow up? How about have a baby? Parker missed the first 10 games of the 2009 WNBA season on maternity leave, making her season debut just six weeks after giving birth to a daughter named Lailaa. Despite missing the first month of the season, Parker was named to the All-WNBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team and helped the Sparks advance to the Western Conference Finals in the playoffs.

Parker’s 2010 and 2011 seasons were both derailed by injuries to her shoulder and knee, respectively. She returned fully healthy in 2012 and finished as the runner-up for MVP and added the second of her five All-WNBA First Team selections.

The following season, Parker captured her second MVP award after ranking in the top 13 in all major statistical categories – scoring (6th, 17.9), rebounding (7th, 8.7), assists (12th, 3.8), steals (13th, 1.3), blocks (4th, 1.8) and field goal percentage (13th, 49.3%).

Few players can match the versatility that Parker brings to the floor. She can block a shot, grab the defensive rebound, bring the ball up the court and either make a play for a teammate or create her own shot, whether it be a jump shot from the perimeter or a drive for a layup or dunk at the rim.

While those talents have led to plenty of individual honors and playoff appearances for the Sparks, a WNBA title has eluded Parker through the first eight seasons of her WNBA career.