WNBA President Donna Orender, left, and first overall, Candace Parker, pose for a photo after being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks during the first round of the WNBA draft today in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Joe Ranze)

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Candace Parker was the No. 1 pick in today’s WNBA draft, going to the Los Angeles Sparks just 14 hours after helping Tennessee win the national championship.

Parker elected to skip her final year of eligibility to take advantage of the large Los Angeles media market and play in the Olympics.

“It’s been really hard,” she said. “Obviously, I’ve wavered. I think everybody wavers on decisions all the time, especially when you’re in the moment and there’s orange surrounding you and people are begging you and saying, ‘One more year.’ I gave my word and I just felt like it was time for me to leave and we left on top. Living in the moment is how I’ve been able to balance everything and stay with my head above water because it’s been a tough couple of hours. I want to apologize to my family because I’ve been kind of stressed.”

Parker joins former Lady Vol Sidney Spencer on the Sparks, who selected Tennessee point guard Shannon Bobbitt with the first pick of the second round. Alexis Hornbuckle went fourth to Detroit and Nicky Anosike was picked right after Bobbitt by Minnesota.

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for complete coverage.