Parker

KELSEY Parker has revealed plans to try for a baby in 2026 after suffering a heartbreaking stillbirth. 

The 35-year-old was left devastated in June when her son Phoenix – her first child with partner Will Lindsay – died just a week before his due date.

Despite being put through every parent’s worst nightmare, Kelsey, who also shares Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four, with late husband Tom Parker, has insisted she plans to add to her family this year. 

Speaking on her Mum’s The Word podcast, which she co-hosts with Georgia Jones, she said: “I just want a better year, it was really really tough, it was s***. 

“I think to continue the path of, ‘is there a baby this year for me’, I could have one this year, which is exciting.

“Also [continuing to] raise awareness and keep doing my charity work.”

not forgotten

Kelsey Parker reveals touching addition to Tom’s memorial for child she lost

RAW REVEAL

Kelsey Parker is ‘shattered all over again’ after ‘painfully hard lessons’

The Wanted singer Tom passed away aged 33 in 2022 from a rare, aggressive brain tumour.

Heartbroken Kelsey told her followers in June how Phoenix had been “born sleeping”. 

She added: “Before I receive an influx of lovely messages and heartfelt well wishes, I want to just say that I truly appreciate everything you are all going to say and share.

“But with the news being so raw, I would really like to ensure that we as a family are given space and time to process this devastating and earth-shattering news.

“I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space.”

Following her husband’s tragic death, the family have remained dedicated to raising funds for brain tumour research in Tom‘s honour with an annual charity football match in his memory.

Kelsey went public with her new relationship in September last year, saying she knew her late husband would “send the right man for her“.

Just before Christmas Kelsey paid tribute to her stillborn baby by adding a touching addition to late husband Tom’s memorial.

Kelsey said Tom is “looking after the child she lost in heaven” as she added a plaque to his park bench.

The plaque read: “Phoenix Parker-Lindsay..I walk towards my destiny with ease.”

Burnley managed just three efforts on target at the Amex Stadium and their lack of threat in attack was compounded by errors at the back.

The absence of captain Josh Cullen, who is out for the season after suffering anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 0-0 draw against Everton on 27 December, was also sharply felt in a listless midfield display on a day when a despondent Parker could take few positives.

“What we need is what we had previous to today,” Parker added.

“While the results have not gone our way, we have been building on certain things and there has been a real commitment. We are going to lose matches but the way we lost today is not one which was nice and is not acceptable really. We need a reaction for sure.

“The saving grace is there is only x amount of points [six to safety] but that is irrelevant because if we perform like we did at times today, whatever the points are, we are not going to get enough [to stay up].”

Sweden international Hjalmar Ekdal echoed Parker’s sentiments when speaking to Sky Sports, adding: “I think today is worse than previous games.

“This game is not what we stand for or what we want to be defined by. As a team we were weak, not there, we have a lack of belief.

“I think we are all a bit embarrassed of ourselves. It is difficult to put it on one thing really, but just the mindset and the character of us all on the pitch. The duels and everything, how we fight and go through the game, we can all see that we are not really there and we are not really in the game.”

Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Jamal Crawford, the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Bruce Pearl and Kelvin Sampson were among the first-time nominees announced Friday that will be considered for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame next year.

Also among the notable first-time nominees: Elena Delle Donne and Joe Johnson as players, and Mike D’Antoni as a contributor.

Nearly 200 players and teams were on the list unveiled by the Hall, including some finalists that fell short of enshrinement in the 2025 class — Jennifer Azzi, who was a member of that 1996 U.S. women’s team that won gold at the Atlanta Games. Azzi is a nominee again as an individual this year.

“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year’s ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated.”

Finalists are typically announced at NBA All-Star weekend in February. The 2026 class will be unveiled April 4 at the NCAA Final Four, with enshrinement weekend Aug. 14 and 15 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., and at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Mass.

Other finalists a year ago who are back on the ballot include Gonzaga coach Mark Few; NBA legends Marques Johnson and Buck Williams; and Jerry Welsh — who coached Potsdam in upstate New York to NCAA Division III titles in 1981 and 1986.

Molly Bolin, the first player signed by the Women’s Professional Basketball League, is back as well, as is former Serbian professional player and longtime coach Dusan Ivkovic — already a FIBA Hall of Famer.

Doc Rivers, the only NBA coach with more than 1,000 wins who isn’t yet in the Hall of Fame, is a nominee again, as are Amar’e Stoudemire and legendary broadcaster Marv Albert.

Some teams that will also be considered include the 1936, 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic men’s teams; the 1982 Cheyney State team coached by C. Vivian Stringer that lost to Louisiana Tech in the inaugural NCAA Division I women’s national championship game; the Kentucky Wesleyan men’s teams that won three Division II national titles in a four-year span during the late 1960s; and the 1963 Loyola Chicago men’s team that won the NCAA title and broke racial barriers in the sport by using as many as four Black starters.