Former Walton High School star Candice Dupree has concluded her 15th WNBA season. While she wished her summer had included the WNBA playoffs, she was content to be home with her three-year-old twin daughters, Carly and Demi. After wrapping up the Indiana Fever season on Sept. 12 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Dupree was eagerly anticipating a return to Wesley Chapel, where her greatest accomplishment is raising the twins with her wife, DeWanna Bonner.
Balancing career and family life
Balancing professional and family life is a challenge for both Dupree and Bonner, who are both WNBA players with different teams and schedules. Before the pandemic and the summer WNBA season, Dupree played in Hungary and Bonner played in China, so their busy schedules meant limited rest time. Luckily, Dupree can rely on her mom, Patty, and twin sister, Crystal, who help take care of the twins during the season.
While some players brought their children into the bubble, Dupree chose not to, preferring to keep her twins in a more familiar, active environment. Reflecting on her experience in the bubble, Dupree recalled how eager she was to return to Florida when President Trump issued his travel ban from Europe. Despite the challenges, the WNBA bubble provided a unique experience for the players as they launched social justice initiatives following the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests.
Committed to social justice
Dupree was active in the WNBA’s social justice initiatives, meeting with the League of Women Voters to become more involved in the voting community. Now that the season is over, she’s eager to spend time with her daughters, who have begun to voice their desire for her more loudly. With the 36-year-old Dupree’s WNBA career over, she is a free agent and is open to exploring new opportunities, including professional coaching.
A legendary career
Candice Dupree’s journey from a silky-smooth forward at Wharton High School to a 15-year WNBA veteran has been remarkable. At Wharton, she became the school’s all-time leading scorer and won the Dottie McGahkin Award as Hillsborough County’s top female player during the 2001-02 season. Dupree went on to play basketball at Temple University under the guidance of three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley. In 2006, she was selected by the Chicago Sky with the sixth overall pick in the WNBA draft.
Dupree’s consistency and steadiness have defined her career. She has never averaged less than double digits and ranks fifth on the WNBA’s career scoring list, surpassing legends such as Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird and Tina Charles. She ranks second in field goal percentage, fourth in minutes played and seventh in rebounds and games played. In 2010, Dupree had one of the best WNBA seasons ever, averaging 15.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while leading the league in field goal percentage (66.4%) and free throw percentage (93.6%).
Looking ahead
With impressive career statistics and contributions to the game, Dupree is proud of her accomplishments, but she remains focused on the present. Now back home, she plans to relax and spend time with her family. She’ll likely explore Pasco County’s newly completed Wiregrass Sports Campus near her home, which recently hosted the seventh annual Candace Dupree Invitational, a girls basketball tournament. Dupree has long supported the East Tampa Youth Basketball Association, sponsoring teams and providing shoes and uniforms.
While taking her children for a walk and playing in the pool, Dupree is also thinking about her next steps. Whether it’s returning to Europe to play basketball or looking for coaching opportunities, Dupree is in no rush. Now, she cherishes the time she spends with her family and is open to the future.
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