Candace Parker Shares Lailaa Williams Prom Photos Before Junior Prom
candace parker shared photos of her daughter Lailaa Williams ahead of junior prom, giving a close look at a milestone that arrived before another bigger one already on the calendar. Lailaa is 17 and has already committed to play Division I volleyball at the University of California San Diego.
Candace Parker and Lailaa Williams
In the photos, Williams wore a floor length burgundy gown, while Parker kissed her on the cheek in one image. A custom sign in the pictures read “Lailaa’s Junior Prom 25,” turning the post into a clear marker for the moment rather than just another family snapshot.
Parker added her own note to the post: “Prom thug tears babygirl was beautiful and she’s growing up (per usual… Grateful for the village that ALWAYS shows up for my baby),” a line that matched the public tone of the celebration and the private pride behind it. The post sits alongside Williams’ earlier college commitment, so the prom photos land as part of a stretch of milestones for the family.
UC San Diego Commitment
Williams wrote on Instagram, “I’m super excited to announce my commitment to play D1 volleyball and continue my education at University of California, San Diego as a Triton!” She added, “This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I wouldn’t be here without so many people,” before thanking her family for supporting her and pushing her to keep going when things got tough.
That commitment ties directly to her work on the court. Williams plays middle blocker at her high school, and the move to UC San Diego gives her a Division I destination after a long-running push toward that level.
Shelden Williams Responds
Parker and her ex-husband Shelden Williams both reacted publicly after the college announcement, giving the moment extra family weight. Parker wrote, “To say I’m proud is an understatement……Lailaa is committing to play volleyball at the University of California San Diego! I’ve seen the work, the commitment and the process and that’s what makes me the most proud of who and what you are.”
Shelden Williams wrote, “I can hardly put into words just how proud I am of you as you embark on this incredible journey to play volleyball at UC San Diego!! Your commitment, hard work, and determination to reach this milestone are truly inspiring,” placing the prom post in the middle of a broader stretch that now includes a Division I future. For readers following the family’s public updates, the photos show the prom moment first and the college path just behind it.
