Candace Parker injured against Liberty

It happened so quickly few saw it or knew what to make of it. One moment Candace Parker was airborne, leaping for her second blocked shot of the night. The next the Sparks superstar was on the floor, writhing in pain.

Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom didn’t see it happen. Neither did Liberty coach John Whisenant or forward Plennette Pierson. But when they heard Parker’s agonizing cries, they knew they’d seen enough.

“She was out all of last season and I just hope that isn’t the case,” Whisenant said. “I hope she’s fine.”

With 5:56 left in the third quarter, and Parker en route to having one of her typical standout performances (she is averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds per game), she went up over Pierson and came down awkwardly along Pierson’s back.

“I just know she went up for the block and I turned around and saw her on the floor,” Pierson said. “Hopefully she’ll be okay.”

The only word after the game was that Parker was flying back to Los Angeles for an MRI on her right knee. She walked off the court with the help of a trainer and did not return from the locker room.

“We’re just waiting to see,” said a noticeably concerned Gillom in the coaches’ locker room after the game. “It happened so fast. I don’t know whether she twisted it or worse.”

Parker was already wearing a knee brace on her left knee after having two knee surgeries before her freshman season at Tennessee. The former No. 1 overall pick missed all but 10 games for the Sparks last year after dislocating her left shoulder.

Without her, Los Angeles went 10-14.

Before the game, Parker, perhaps the WNBA’s most recognizable face, signed autographs for the crowd of fans who swarmed her after warmups. She drew a large applause during her introduction and was certainly a draw for Sunday’s game in Newark.

Just when her next game will be is yet uncertain.

“God knows I’m praying for the best,” Gillom said.