Some things are bigger than basketball.
Stars of the WNBA and NBA are well known for their on-court abilities, but there's more to the people who many view as superheroes. From foundations supporting teachers to bringing awareness to important issues, these basketball players all have unique backstories that help make them special humans — not just athletes.
Through a series of interviews with NBC, we learned more about how players are making a difference in their communities.
Candace Parker uses her stories to inspire others in new book
The weight of the world wasn't too heavy for Candace Parker to carry.
High school phenom? Check. One of the most decorated collegiate careers ever? Check. WNBA champion, MVP and All-Star? Check.
Parker has done it all, starting at an early age -- including inspiring others. Since realizing the impact that she could have in the world, Parker has taken her platform and ran with it.
How Sophie Cunningham helps girls basketball players stay in the Midwest
Sophie Cunningham is once again playing basketball in her own backyard.
The Missouri native, after spending the first six seasons of her WNBA career with the Phoenix Mercury, returned to the Midwest after being traded in February to the Indiana Fever.
“My Midwest roots, I’m excited to be around Midwesterners again,” she told reporters after the trade. “It’s my type of people.”
But Cunningham never really left her people.
A'ja Wilson overcomes dyslexia to start foundation and candle business
A'ja Wilson has accomplished everything professionally.
The Las Vegas Aces star has earned every accolade imaginable: two WNBA championships, three WNBA MVP awards, two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and two Olympic gold medals, to name a few.
But the 28-year-old South Carolina alum opened up about the struggle she deals with: dyslexia. Wilson's learning disability, she said, has shaped the way she's approached her life as a famous figure.
It's one of the No. 1 things I wanted to do once I became a professional athlete.
A'ja Wilson on why she started her foundation
Cameron Brink dishes on social media struggles, dealing with hate
Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks has been committed to basketball since her unique journey began.
Brink said she dealt with jealousy and "undeserving hate" while in high school, but dealt with it by transferring schools to somewhere where she felt wanted and appreciated.
In today's age with the rise in social media usage among young people, more are susceptible to different types of bullying and hate that Brink once dealt with.
Ariel Atkins Foundation gives Chicago Sky star a platform to support others
Dallas, Texas-born Ariel Atkins began her foundation in 2023 with the goal of supporting teachers around the country as a way to improve education.
The Chicago Sky star said she was inspired by her sister Jessica, who formerly worked as an educator and struggled to gain access to the resources she needed to properly run a classroom.
"'How can we actually help these kids year round and really supplement some things that they're not able to just get?'" Atkins said she wondered before designing her foundation. "We've got to take care of the people that are taking care of the kids ... Our goal and our job is to give our resources for people that support youth."