words // Brandon Richard
images // Nick DePaula
The 2012 United States Women's Basketball Team is currently en route to London after a clean sweep of their World Basketball Festival exhibition tune-ups. Playing in Washington D.C., Manchester and Istanbul, the girls ran through Brazil, Great Britain, Croatia and Turkey by an average of 33 points, including a 54 point romping of the Croatians. Our ladies have their sights set on a fifth-straight Olympic Gold Medal, and it doesn't look like much can be done to stop them from reaching their goal.
One of the team's leaders and returning players from Beijing is Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker, who has been the team's leading rebounder in exhibition play. That should come as no surprise, as the other "CP3" is having one of the most productive years of her professional career. This season, Candace is leading the way for the playoff-positioned Sparks, averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. Not only is she one of just three players averaging a double-double, but she's also playing her first consistently healthy string of games in three years. Her all-around game has transitioned well at the international level and will be a key factor in the upcoming Olympic run.
This summer, Candace has given a break to her Sparks-themed adiZero Shadow PE and is lacing up an exclusive "Olympic" colorway of the Crazy Light 2 for Team USA's road to gold. The ultra-light kicks sport a white SprintWeb-constructed upper, backed by bright red on the 3-Stripes and SprintFrame counter. Red also works the inner lining and midsole, while subtle hints of navy appear on Candace's Ace3 logo on the tongue, the stripe borders and adiZero pinline. Appropriately, red, white and blue come together to support the ride below.
Read on for a closer look at Candace Parker's "Olympic" adidas adiZero Crazy Light 2 PE and check out the team's Olympic opener against Croatia this Saturday at 11:45 a.m. EST.
