Parker's not queen of the world, just yet

BEIJING -- The Olympic Games were supposed to be Candace Parker's coming-out party on the world stage. So far she has played well, though not spectacularly, as the USA racks up lopsided wins.

No worries, says Tom Maher, the Australian who coaches China. Just give her time. "I always say Einstein was probably the smartest person in the world when he was 20," Maher says. "But he was smarter at 30. Give her time. She's going to be great."

Parker, 22, has time on her side. She's the fresh face of women's hoops: two-time national college player of the year and the only girl to beat the boys in the dunk contest in the high school McDonald's All America Game.

That got her on the Today show at 18, and she has become accustomed to the spotlight ever since. She graduated from Tennessee in ...