Candace Parker to receive an MRI, X-rays after dislocating shoulder again

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Candace Parker, who again dislocated her left shoulder during the Sparks 88-84 win against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, will receive an MRI and X-rays this week as doctors determine whether surgery will be necessary.

Parker dislocated her left shoulder with less than three minutes remaining in the first half while grabbing a defensive rebound. She was not hit on the play, and her teammate DeLisha Milton-Jones described it as a ‘freak accident.’ Parker immediately walked to the locker room with her arm dangling at her side and was transported to the hospital, where she was released later that afternoon.

The Sparks organization said Parker is ‘day to day’ at this point, but added that they are proceeding with caution considering Parker dislocated her shoulder twice in three days -- she initially dislocated her shoulder in a game against the Seattle Storm on Friday.

‘The stress of doing that on Friday and then again yesterday is making us proceed a little more carefully to make us see what’s really going on,’ said Alayne Ingram, Sparks director of communications.

Parker’s shoulder problems began in college when she played for Tennessee. She twice dislocated her left shoulder during the Lady Vols regional final against Texas A&M in 2008. She went on to play in the Final Four less than a week later to help the Lady Vols win their second consecutive title.

Parker elected not to have surgery and was drafted into the WNBA as the No. 1 overall pick by the Sparks in 2008.

‘When she injured it in college, an eventual surgery at some point would be necessary,’ Ingram said. ‘It’s just a determination when she needs it now, and that’s what the X-rays and MRI will show.’

Losing Parker, who was the 2008 WNBA rookie of the year and most valuable player, would be devastating for the Sparks. The Sparks have opened their season with a 3-7 record and are in fifth place in the Western Conference.

‘It’s terrible to have any of our players injured,’ said Sparks co-owner Kathy Goodman. ‘We will adjust however we need to adjust if she can’t play. The most important thing is to make sure she’s healthy.’

-- Melissa Rohlin