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Lailaa Williams has officially announced her commitment to join the Division I volleyball team at the University of California, San Diego.
Lailaa, the daughter of renowned athletes Candace Parker and Shelden Williams, broke the news on Instagram last week, expressing that this decision marks the culmination of years of dedication and effort.
“I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be playing D1 volleyball and pursuing my education at UC San Diego as a Triton!” she wrote, conveying her excitement.
She added, “Achieving this dream has been a long-term goal, and I owe it to so many people. A heartfelt thank you to my family for their unwavering support and encouragement, even during challenging times.”
Candace Parker followed up with an Instagram post of her own, featuring a photo of Lailaa proudly wearing UC San Diego volleyball attire, flanked by Parker and her wife, Anna Petrakova.
“To say I’m proud is an understatement……Lailaa is committing to play volleyball at the University of California San Diego!” Parker wrote. “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 also took to his Instagram page to share a congratulatory mesage to his daughter.
“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,” he wrote.
He said he recognized Lailaa’s potential early on and described watching her growth as one of the greatest joys of his life.
“From the moment you first picked up a volleyball, I didn’t know much about the sport but knew you had a special spark. Watching you grow from a little girl into the remarkable young woman you are today has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
He ended his message by saying, “As you step onto that court, remember that you carry all my love and support. I believe in you wholeheartedly and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll accomplish.”
Lailaa plays middle blocker at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood and is set to graduate in 2027.