The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions

by Candace Parker

One of the most decorated and celebrated women’s basketball players of all time breaks down her ultimate recipe to success, using her own deeply inspiring journey to teach readers how to live bravely, unapologetically, and with purpose.

“Candace Parker has been a trailblazer on and off the court, inspiring us all with her resilience, authenticity, and purpose-driven life. We are thrilled to work with Candace and present her extraordinary book to readers from all walks of life. The Can-Do Mindset delivers a playbook for how we can all achieve greatness on our own terms.” —John Legend, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius, Get Lifted Books

Candace Parker is a living legend. Her storied career includes three WNBA titles, two Olympic gold medals, and countless MVP Awards. Her career accolades are endless and her impact on the WNBA beyond measure, but Candace is even more inspiring off the court. A proud wife and mother of three, whose love story resonated with the LGBTQ+ community around the world, Candace is fiercely purpose-driven, paving the way for the WNBA’s rise in American culture, and for female basketballers to have the impact and platform that used to be reserved for the NBA. But this success didn’t happen by accident. From the start, Candace turned her childhood nickname, Can-Do, into a daily mantra that helped her overcome enormous physical and mental hurdles while embracing her vulnerability. In her first-ever book, Candace breaks down the ultimate recipe for success, drawn from the experiences that made her a better person and player. CAN-DO becomes an acronym to live by:

Learn from and lean on your Community

Show up as Authentically you

Realize that Negativity is a part of life

Embrace the excitement of the everyday Dash

And fight for Opportunity for yourself and others.

It’s how Candace has succeeded on the court and off, and it can help readers do so, too. Told through personal stories, The Can-Do Mindset is for Candace’s countless fans who want to see behind the curtain of her meteoric career and life, and for all of us who could learn from an icon who lives bravely, unapologetically, and guided by purpose.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Basketball, LGBT

304 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Krissy Anthonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Candace and enjoyed the journey I was on with her while reading it!

[Kayla Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Time teaches us not to self sabotage or short change ourselves.”

I loved this book, specifically the audiobook version. It was awesome getting to hear about not only the accomplishments but the setbacks and struggles of being a woman athlete in a male dominated field. I knew that the WNBA struggled but to hear from someone who experienced it first hand and became a trailblazer in her field was amazing. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who works in sports, or is an athlete or coach!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 great content / well-written. felt the order was slightly jumpy, but overall great memoir

[Sydney Leibforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet Candace herself when she came back to her hometown for the book. She is such a kind person and pours her soul into this book. She really can and has done so many amazing things. Loved how many shoutouts Naperville got 🔥

[Stephanie Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in the same town as Candace Parker and have always been a fan! I enjoyed her book overall, on her career, her personal life, and her growth as a leader. The organization of the book was after her “CAN-Do” attitude, but it did make the book feel repetitive at times and longer than it needed to be. Definitely an inspiring read for female athletes!

[Diane Y. Derr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life challenges, expectations, hurdles may seem tough at the moment but determination can show you have what it takes to overcome them.

[Jen English · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive at times, but her passion for basketball, equity, and inclusion shines through. All love to that beautiful “orange ball”

[Shannon Firebaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace is such an impressive and interesting person. I really enjoyed hearing about all aspects of her life and only wish I had started watching the WNBA sooner!

[Brandon St. Croix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging but felt a bit lost in the changing time lines and bouncing back and forth across Candace's career.

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda long. However CP3 does have a long career to cover.

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Can-Do Mindset by Candace Parker is a book that offers a blend of memoir and self-help, guiding readers on how to cultivate resilience, follow their heart, and fight for their passions. Parker shares her personal stories and insights from her illustrious career, providing a roadmap for achieving success both on and off the court. As a lover of women's basketball, I was really excited to dive into this book.

The book is incredibly inspiring and filled with practical advice that feels genuine and accessible. Parker's voice is authentic and encouraging, making you feel like you're getting personal coaching from a true champion. I especially appreciated the way she connects her life experiences to key lessons about overcoming obstacles and staying focused on your goals. The Can-Do Mindset is a motivational and powerful read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bradley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got an ARC copy of this and I am immeasurably disappointed.

It’s clear Candace did not use a ghost writer, and that decision was very much to her detriment.

You spend so much time trying to decipher what she’s attempting to say that it’s impossible to appreciate the message. The message is also incredibly trite, childishly simplistic, and vague as it gets.

This is a cash grab attempt plain and simple and it’s pretty disgusting she will charge her fans money for this dreck.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candace Parker has had a very successful basketball career. She was a member of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers championship teams in 2007 and 2008, was the #1 pick of the 2008 WNBA draft for the Los Angeles Sparks, and won three WNBA championships - two with the Sparks and one with the Chicago Sky. After retiring from playing, she has made a successful transition tothe broadcast booth. Through it all, she has time to be a wife, mother and write this very good memoir.

The title of the book comes from the nickname she was given in her childhood. She felt she could do anything with her older brothers - she had that “can-do” attitude. However, as she explains in the book, this hasn’t always been the case. But her perseverance kept her going on whatever challenge she was facing. And there were plenty.

These included injuries in both college and the WNBA, a divorce from her husband (who was also a professional basketball player), how to raise their daughter while she played in both the WNBA and overseas and later marrying a woman she met in Russia while playing in that country. So, just from that little bit of information on her, it’s easy to see she has been through a lot, both good and bad,and she shares a lot.

As one might expect given this, she opens up about racism, LGBTQ+ issues, motherhood, people who played an important role in her life and of course, basketball. While it isn’t uncommon for professional athletes to credit past coaches for their support and lessons, Parker shows a lot of love for her college coach at Tennessee, the late Pat Summitt. That is just one example of Parker’s overall positivity throughout the book. At times the text does get repetitive, but at least it’s mostly positive, despite some of the negative things that happened to her.

There are five main topics in the book, from the letters of “can do” - Community, Authenticity, Negativity (how she dealt with it, as mentioned above), the Dash and Opportunity. Through it all, this is a very good memoir by a sure-fire Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...

[Valerya Canchola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Can-Do Mindset book overall talks about Candace developing while going through challenges, learning while in the moments, growing mentally with herself and her heart. Candace received the nickname Can-Do, whatever she thought she could do, she would do it. From being the first women to win the All-American McDonald's dunking contest, to winning three WNBA championships. I believe the purpose of this book is to show more than just basketball. It talks about the challenges of being an eye of the public, having to hide what she loves, and helping a league grow.

Candace left a large mark for women's basketball so to hear more about her life outside of basketball she shows that people in her life are important. Candace shows whatever challenges are put in front of what she loves like when she dislocated her shoulder, she’ll push herself to do what she loves. Candace helps explain how you should not take people’s opinions to heart, she shows this after years of her caring about what the media had to say about her as a single mother and her daughter. Candace helped me realize that it is okay to ask for help, life throws problems at you and by asking for help you do not show your vulnerability but who you truly are.

People that are Candace Parker fans would love her book. Those who are interested in women's sports or WNBA fans too. Even if you are not into sports but you are interested in the struggles players go through. If you are interested in autobiographies you would like The Can-Do Mindset.

[Kanwarpal Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Candace Parker, One of the most decorated and celebrated women’s basketball players of all time. she is a trailblazer on and off the court, inspiring women with her resilience, authenticity, and purpose-driven life for the love of the sport she likes to play .This success didn’t happen by accident. From the start, Candace turned her childhood nickname, Can-Do, into a daily mantra that helped her overcome enormous physical and mental hurdles while embracing her vulnerability

Her journey, her love life, her lost love Anya, her being third gender represents that journey can be tough , when you are true to yourself but life becomes better with such a brave decision.Told through personal stories, The Can-Do Mindset is for those fans who want to see behind the curtain of her career and life, and could learn from an icon who lives bravely, unapologetically, and guided by purpose

Her story includes her career, personal life and women's representation of modern world women . With three WNBA titles, two Olympic gold medals, and countless MVP Awards. Her career accolades are endless and her impact on the WNBA is beyond measure, but Candace is even more inspiring off the court. A proud wife and mother of three, whose love story resonated with the LGBTQ+ community around the world, Her journey, paving the way for the WNBA’s rise in American culture, and for female basketballers to have the impact and platform that used to be reserved for the NBA.

[Candice Crutchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the title sounding like a typical self-help manual, The Can Do Mindset is far from repetitive or formulaic. Rather than offering bullet-point strategies or motivational clichés, Candace Parker delivers a deeply personal narrative rooted in identity, and finding joy amidst adversity.

Parker, a WNBA legend, gold medalist, and multi-champion, doesn’t just recount her athletic achievements. Instead, she opens up about the experiences that have created her own mosaic: balancing motherhood and a professional basketball career, confronting societal expectations, navigating a growing league, and embracing vulnerability as strength. Her storytelling is candid and warm, making the book feel more like a conversation than a lesson. Having watched Parker through interviews, clips, and other stories, this feels like a true and authentic glimpse into her world. A story about her. Told by her.

Ultimately, The Can Do Mindset is not about pushing readers to “do more” or “be better.” It’s about showing how joy, grace, and determination can all coexist—of course during the easy moments, but also during the hardest times, too. If you’re a fan of women’s basketball, women’s sports, or just want to hear from a world class champion and athlete, give it a read.

*pairs well with A’ja Wilson’s book*

[Alfred Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Can-Do Mindset” is a book about inner strength written by someone who has lived it. Candace Parker, one of the brightest stars of women’s basketball, writes not only about victories on the court but also about how persistence, discipline, and self-belief extend beyond sports. For her, “can-do” is not a slogan but a life principle that helped her face injuries, doubts, and criticism.
The book’s strength lies in its authenticity. Parker doesn’t present herself as a superhero; she shares real stories of setbacks and comebacks, showing that resilience is born in moments of vulnerability. The message resonates far beyond athletics, inspiring anyone who needs proof that persistence and grit truly work in any field.
The weakness is that it occasionally leans too heavily on traditional sports-motivation tropes: “believe in yourself,” “never give up,” “work harder than the rest.” For seasoned readers of the genre, there may be little novelty. Yet for those seeking a genuine example of strength and determination, The Can-Do Mindset delivers an honest and powerful source of inspiration.

[Lauren Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an audio ARC of this book from NetGalley.
Let me preface this by saying I’m a new WBB fan. I came into the fandom within the last few years and have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the sport, the WNBA and NCAA leagues, and the players. Candace Parker is a well-known name in the WBB world, so when I saw her book available as an audiobook on NetGalley, I jumped on it and was thrilled to be approved.

I started and finished this book in one day. It was well-paced and balanced, blending insights with stories from her life and career. I learned more about her, the history of basketball, and other legends in the sport. Her chapter on Pat Summitt brought tears to my eyes.

Candace does a great job of retelling what has helped her through life’s difficulties and the mindset she uses to succeed—without preaching or lecturing. Her advice is rooted in lessons many of us have already encountered and she presents them in a simple, actionable way.

I was entertained, I learned something, and I was never bored. It’s a 5-star read for me.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me and it makes me want to follow women’s basketball, even though I don’t follow any sports. My favorite parts were about her travels playing in Asia and Europe, and about her relationship with Anna, plus her experience as a mother. Her comparisons of NBA and WNBA taught me that a lot of the unfairness comes down to investment, marketing, and misogyny. I am going to start my basketball education by following the NY Liberty.

Memoirs do not have to be in sequence chronologically. I might have preferred it since I got a little confused with how the book zig-zagged across her career. Also, I would have been happy to do without the can-do acronym or teaching points. Just tell me a good story and I’m happy.

I read this book because it was listed in LGBTQ+ Goodreads list. I had to read a book from the list to achieve a Goodreads challenge, and this was the only one available on Hoopla. I am glad that I came across it, and who knows, I might become a basketball super fan. I am certainly a Candace Parker fan.

[Tray Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today was a very special day for the WNBA's version of CP3. Her LA Sparks jersey number was retired. I'm happy for Candace because im a big big Sparks and Parkers fan. She definitely deserved it.

I enjoyed reading about her story. Candace has a can-do mindset. She is a phenomenal ball player. She is one of the only three basketball players (only female) to win the Rookie of Year and MVP awards in the same season. She has won 3 championships, and each one was with a different team. She has numerous accolades due to her phenomenal basketball skills.

Her book is a good read. I loved the many "Love & Basketball" references. Throughout the book, she was dropping gems of knowledge. She shed some light on several topics that need to be reformed. The only thing that I didn't like was that she jumped around a lot. One minute or chapter, she is talking about her college career and relationship with Pat Summit, and then the next would be about her professional career.

[Marianne]

I didn’t know much about Candace Parker before reading this besides the fact she played for Tennessee and then in the WNBA. I’ve listened to multiple women’s basketball player memoirs recently. After listening to this, I definitely can tell how much Parker loved Pat Summit. The book timeline was not in consecutive order, which was frustrating. It felt like it went through some aspects of her life in order then completely changed route and did other things in order, overlapping with what was already told, which felt confusing. The way things were written, you can tell Parker admits to having confrontations and disagreements with some people over the years. I appreciate the honesty but I was left unsure about her. I wish she read the whole audiobook herself. Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC to review.

[CarrieLou Estigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad that this audiobook was available on Hoopla. It was one of the choices to read on the last achievement of this month. I was interested in reading it because I’m fond of memoirs and I recently got into watching the WNBA.

It was interesting hearing about Candace’s point of view of her life before, during, and after the WNBA. She went into depth of the hardships and triumphs of being a woman athlete who is a person of color. There were a lot of things that I learned about her because of this book.

I would’ve liked if it was told in chronological order. She kept going back and forth from her time at WNBA to her time at college which got a little confusing. Overall I enjoyed her story and I’m glad she experienced so much success as a basketball player on and off court.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Can-Do Mindset" by Candace Parker is a quick, motivating read about staying true to yourself and pushing through challenges. Parker shares personal stories from her life and career, offering honest advice on confidence, resilience, and purpose. One of my favorite moments was when she compared her knee scans to those of an older individual—and the med students assumed hers were the older knees. It’s a funny, humbling reminder of the toll elite performance takes, and how perception doesn’t always match reality. It’s a great pick if you want inspiration from someone who’s lived it and leads with heart.

[Rob Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring book! Not surprised to find out she’s a fellow Aries! She was very candid and honest throughout and provided new perspectives on a variety work and life topics while also sharing her own biography.

I knew very little about Candace Parker before this book but I am definitely a fan now.

She dropped so many knowledge bombs and included worldly wisdom from her coach and life guide, Pat Summit. For example “You’ve never arrived. You’re always working toward something”.

I especially liked her section on “telescopic goals” and “microscopic goals”. Telescopic are the big life goals and microscopic are the daily things you do to get to those big telescopic goals.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which is best listened to in the authors own voice. I appreciated her candor in discussing her highs and lows. I saw some comments taking issue with the way she jumps around on her time line but found it made sense based on her thematic/lesson based chapter organization. She also voiced her issues with the WNBA and was critical of some of her past decisions but realized that it's how she got to now. There was plenty to reflect on and apply to my own life and legacy even though I'm not an athlete or elite in any way.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting one. It’s organized by topic/attitude instead of the more linear memoir structure that I’m used to. As a result, it feels a little disjointed, but when Candace gets cooking on a topic (especially the places where the WNBA as an organization let down the players), she really cooks. It’s also inspirational and tells a neat story. Worth checking out if you like basketball or are a mom.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring Read!

For those of you who have always loved the WNBA or are newer to following basketball as a whole like me, I cannot recommend this book enough. The only reason I have 4 stars instead of 5 is that I would’ve preferred a bit more of a chronological order so some sections didn’t feel repetitive. However, the content is pure gold. Candace Parker is truly inspiring for athletes and non-athletes alike.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the parts about her coming into her sexuality, travel abroad, and the evolution of the WNBA. Otherwise, I felt overwhelmed by the intensity of pressure Candace’s put on herself to be the perfect basketball player and mother. It’s her story but as a reader it just felt so singularly focused and repetitive. I skipped forward several times throughout and still felt like I heard the same refrain several times.

[Alex Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up watching Candace Parker play for Tennessee. She is one of the main things that sparked my love for that university, which still continues today. I liked this book as a whole. My favorite chapter was the one in memory of Pat Summitt - don’t mind me balling my eyes out. My only criticism of this book is that certain parts seemed a bit long winded and repetitive. I still very much recommend this book.

[Morgan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I started watching the wnba recently so I wasn’t as familiar with all the details of the legacy she left and I really enjoying learning about it and her mindset through it all. I would definitely recommend this book and she is truly just so inspiring.

My only complaint which is pretty minor is the timeline was a bit jumpy at times which took me out of it a bit at times

Also, thanks to the publishers and goodreads for the free copy of this book to review.