Sat Nov 29 05:20:00 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bruce Pearl Jokes About Candace Parker’s Dating Life at Tennessee During TNT Broadcast

[City, State] – [Date] – Former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl turned heads on Monday night during TNT’s broadcast of the Volunteers’ victory over Rutgers, sharing humorous anecdotes about Candace Parker’s college dating life. Pearl, who coached the Vols from 2005 to 2011, overlapped with Parker’s time as a star player from 2004 to 2008.

Pearl playfully recounted how Parker, a three-time All-American, dated one of his players while also communicating with others, leading to his occasional intervention. “Candace, you remember there were a couple of times I would come to you and say, ‘Honey, don’t break up with him tonight’, right?” he joked on air, sparking laughter from Parker, who was sitting beside him.

Parker acknowledged the encounters with Pearl, clarifying, “That will stay in 2004 to 2008.”

During her time at Tennessee, Parker led the Lady Vols to back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, earning Naismith Player of the Year honors in 2008. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and has since become a successful broadcaster for TNT, covering both NBA and college basketball.

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