The WNBA is once again relevant!

WNBA MVP Candace Parker is returning from maternity leave on Sunday for the Los Angeles Sparks, just six weeks after giving birth to her first child.

The Sparks have struggled without Parker and an injured Lisa Leslie, getting off to a 3-5 start. Los Angeles were the favorites to win the WNBA title.

And if watching Parker run up and down the court wasn’t enough inspiration to watch, the Sparks are taking on the Phoenix Mercury and Diana Taurasi, who was cited for driving drunk Thursday evening.

It was only a matter of time before the women really started acting like the men and getting busted for DUI’s.

Even the camera loves Candace Parker.

Parker is on the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, pregnant and all.

The Los Angeles Sparks forward is the first pregnant athlete to be shown on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

And fellas, the article’s first paragraph dives right into the fact that Parker is a C cup.

I’m sure the rest of the article is great but I didn’t make it past the first paragraph.

Parker is due in early May – never too early to get your office baby pools going on what day she has the kid.

WNBA MVP and Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker is pregnant and expecting her first child with husband Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

“Shelden and I are very excited to be expanding our family,” said Parker in a statement. “We feel blessed and look forward to becoming parents.”

It is highly doubtful we will see Parker play in the 2009 WNBA season.

Kinda hard to dribble the ball when you have a bun in the oven.

Let’s hope the kid looks more like Candace and doesn’t get Shelden’s looks.

I’m just saying…

2008 continues to get better for Candace Parker.

The Los Angeles Sparks forward won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and is expected to take home the MVP trophy later today.

Parker averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game which led the WNBA.

It wasn’t enough to get her Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA Finals, falling to the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA Playoffs.

Parker would join an exclusive club of athletes who have won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

The last athlete to accomplish that feat was Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.