PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Fiance Shelden Williams whispered the sweet reminder to Candace Parker.

“You dreamed of this,’’ he said. “You’ve wanted this your entire life.”

Being selected by the Los Angeles Sparks as the top pick in the WNBA draft Wednesday was a dream come true for Tennessee’s star forward. It also might have been a relief, coming on the heels of the Lady Vols’ 64-48 win over Stanford for the national championship Tuesday night.

“It’s been a tough couple of hours,’’ she said. “I want to apologize to my family because I’ve been kind of stressed.”

So Williams’ timing was as good as his memory in providing some perspective.

“She got a big smile,’’ said Williams, who plays for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. “I think it calmed her down.”

Parker was one of five Lady Vols chosen during the ceremony at the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club. Guard Alexis Hornbuckle was chosen fourth by Detroit. Guard Shannon Bobbitt and center Nicky Anosike were the first two picks of the second round. Bobbitt also went to the Sparks, and Anosike was chosen by Minnesota.

Alberta Auguste was picked in the third round, No. 35 overall, by New York.

In detailing the whirlwind nature of her life the past few months, Parker conceded to some second thoughts after deciding to forgo a final season of collegiate eligibility.

“I’ve wavered,’’ she said. “I think everybody wavers on decisions all the time, especially when you’re in the moment and there’s Orange surrounding you and people are begging you, telling you one more year.

“But I gave my word. I just felt like it was time for me to leave. And we left on top.”

Parker shouldn’t feel like she’s left Tennessee at all. Along with Bobbitt, former Lady Vols Sidney Spencer and Tye’sha Fluker are on the Sparks roster. Parker, Bobbitt and Spencer were UT teammates last season.

“It’s almost like the championship team of ’07 is back together,’’ Anosike said.

Spencer, who attended the draft, already was thinking like a teammate.

“I can’t wait for training camp, just to kind of take them under my wing,’’ she said. “L.A. can be kind of intimidating.”

The first priority will be determining the state of Parker’s left shoulder, which was dislocated twice during the NCAA tournament.

“I feel like I’m going to get in with the L.A. Sparks medical staff and they’re going to evaluate,’’ Parker said. “I’m sure there’ll be some communication between (Lady Vols athletic trainer) Jenny Moshak and them about my shoulder.

“I’m going into it with an open mind. I’m going to do everything in my power to rehab my shoulder. I think right now it needs rest. We’ll go from there.”

Spencer thinks Parker’s skills will be a good fit in coach Michael Cooper’s system.

“In our system, she can move around, there’s no designated spot,’’ Spencer said. “I don’t think she’s going to have a position on the court. He gives us the freedom to move around.”

Hornbuckle and Anosike also attended the draft ceremony, sharing in each other’s joy and excitement.

“I hugged Nick before I went up to the podium just like I was hugging my family,’’ Hornbuckle said.

The five Lady Vols were part of a marquee draft that included such players as LSU’s Sylvia Fowles, who went second overall to Chicago, and Stanford’s Candice Wiggins, who went third to Minnesota.

“I feel like its our class’ responsibility to raise the bar,’’ Parker said. “I think our class is capable of doing that. We raised the bar in college drastically.”

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.