One of the best WNBA players of all-time is getting her rightfully-earned flowers. Candace Parker will have her number retired by the Los Angeles Sparks during a June ceremony, the team announced Thursday.
The Sparks will hold a jersey-retirement ceremony for Parker on June 29, before the team takes on the Las Vegas Aces. Parker’s No. 3 will be the third number retired by the franchise, which also retired No. 11 in honor of Lisa Leslie and No. 9 for Penny Toler.
The Sparks teased the ceremony with a video honoring Parker’s accomplishments.
The honor is well-deserved. Parker, largely considered a top-10 player in WNBA history, was taken No. 1 overall by the Sparks in 2008, and immediately performed like a superstar. Parker won both the MVP and Rookie of the Year award during her first season in the league after averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
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She didn’t let up from there. During her tenure with the Sparks, Parker made five All-Star teams, took home a second MVP award in 2013 and led the team to a championship in 2016.
Following the 2020 season, Parker left the Sparks to join the Chicago Sky, her hometown team. Parker made the All-Star team in both seasons with the Sky, and played an integral role in the team winning the WNBA championship in 2021. She joined the Aces for the 2023 season, though only played in 18 games due to injury. The Aces went on to win the title, giving Parker her third championship win.
Parker re-signed with the Aces for the 2024 season, but announced her retirement from basketball a few months later. Since leaving the game, she’s focused on broadcasting, serving as an analyst on TNT.
