On Sunday, the Los Angeles Sparks raised Candace Parker‘s jersey quantity (No. 3) to the rafters of Crypto.com Enviornment in recognition of her contributions to the franchise and influence on girls’s basketball.
Parker Pens Emotional Speech at Retirement Ceremony
The jersey retirement ceremony befell at halftime between the Sparks and the Chicago Sky, two of the three groups Parker performed for all through her 16-year skilled profession. One among her former teammates, Corridor of Famer Lisa Leslie, spoke about spending the final two years of her legendary profession with Parker, who was chosen first general within the 2008 WNBA Draft by the group.
When Leslie retired from skilled basketball in 2009, she said, “I knew after I handed the keys over the Candace Parker, the Sparks have been in good palms.”
The center & soul of the Sparks. 🥹 @Candace_Parker x @LisaLeslie pic.twitter.com/kYJftVdq40
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) June 29, 2025
“In 2008 when the lottery was between Chicago and LA, a child from the Chicago land Midwest, I used to be a bit partial,” Parker stated within the halftime ceremony Sunday. “I wished the balls to fall in LA’s court docket. I wished to be out west. I wished to be right here, the place all of the eyeballs, all of the lights, the place there’s ginormous sneakers to fill. After I landed right here, (head coach) Michael Cooper, he stated to me, ‘silt,’ that was my nickname. ‘Should you win right here, you’re a champion without end.’ So there’s one factor on my thoughts, and we obtained that championship.”
Earlier than the ceremony concluded, Parker shared appreciation in the direction of the Sparks’ fanbase and the group and gratitude for having her jersey quantity retired by Los Angeles. She joins Leslie and Penny Toler because the three gamers in franchise historical past to have their jersey quantity retired.
Parker’s WNBA Profession Accomplishments
Parker performed for the Sparks within the first 13 years of her WNBA profession, attaining quite a few accolades throughout her tenure with the group. In her rookie yr, she grew to become the primary and solely participant in WNBA historical past to win Rookie of the Yr and Most Invaluable Participant in the identical season.
Parker additionally gained her second MVP award in 2013, was named the league’s peak performer 3 times, led the league in blocks twice, and took part in seven WNBA All-Star video games.
One among Parker’s favourite moments as a member of the Sparks was when she led Los Angeles to a WNBA Championship in 2016. That yr, she devoted the championship to Pat Summitt, who was Parker’s head coach on the College of Tennessee after observing Naperville Central (Ailing.)
“It’s nice,” Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Grey informed Ballislife about Parker. “Every time you concentrate on Candace Parker, you assume first L.A. Sparks. The one phrase I might use to explain her is known. She’s been a pillar on this league and the way it helped remodel what it type of seems to be like. One among her greatest issues she wished to search out or she wished to depart the league higher than she discovered it, and he or she’s accomplished that. I’m a testomony to that. Simply the years that we performed collectively, the kind of participant and person who I’m.”
Parker grew to become the primary participant in WNBA historical past to win three WNBA championships with three completely different groups. After the L.A. championship in 2016, she gained with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
Aces ahead A’ja Wilson spent just one season taking part in alongside Parker for the group in 2023. It was Parker’s final season within the WNBA earlier than saying her retirement simply final yr.
“That is big,” Wilson informed Ballislife pregame. “Candace has been a staple piece of this league for a very long time. She was somebody that numerous the league didn’t actually see earlier than she did every little thing that I might dream to do. So to have the ability to name her my teammate is certainly only a blessing, and I’m so excited that she’s getting her flowers. They’re due, she deserves all of them, and I’m excited simply to see how her jersey retirement goes.”
Gamers and Aces’ Coach Becky Hammon Share Fond Candace Parker Reminiscences
Becky Hammon talked about Parker’s legacy and in contrast it to how Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry modified the identification of basketball. She additionally performed in opposition to Parker throughout her skilled profession with the San Antonio Stars, each within the common season and playoffs.
“She’s a participant who modified the league with reference to type of play,” Hammon informed Ballislife. “A degree ahead, multi-dimensional, offensive and defensive participant, equally to how Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors modified how folks considered the three-ball. They remodeled the sport.
“Candace had an analogous impact on the ladies’s recreation, as far as bigs having the ability to deal with bigs, having the ability to shoot, decide and roll and all that stuff, Hammon informed Ballislife. “So properly deserved, she’s among the best opponents this league has ever seen. I’m tremendous pleased for her. She deserves her jersey in each place that she performed, and he or she’s simply that good.”
Candace Parker Set the Commonplace for Future Generations
Candace Parker was the primary and solely WNBA participant to win ROOKIE OF THE YEAR & MVP in the identical season!!
She led rookies in scoring (18.5), blocks (2.3) & minutes and led the league in rebounds (9.5) & double-doubles.
pic.twitter.com/tFdakwiGC3 https://t.co/bZfLFJmXfv
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 29, 2025
Grey spent six seasons taking part in alongside Parker as teammates on the Sparks and Aces, successful two championships collectively and forming a friendship on and off the court docket.
“Successful two championships together with her was big,” Grey informed Ballislife. “One among them, she wasn’t capable of play as a lot as she would have preferred (in 2023). Nevertheless it’s the truth that it goes down the historical past books that we have been teammates collectively. After which simply us hanging out and being collectively, like off the court docket, she’s my son’s godmom. I’m her son’s godmom. So we’ve fashioned a family-type of relationship.”
Parker may even have her No. 3 retired by the Chicago Sky once they welcome the Las Vegas Aces to Wintrust Enviornment on August 25. She additionally would be the first participant in league historical past to have a jersey retired by two completely different groups.
“Having her jersey retired in each Los Angeles and Chicago – two WNBA cities the place she formed the tradition and identification of their groups – is a robust and becoming tribute to all Candace has achieved,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated in an announcement. “On behalf of the WNBA, I wish to thank Candace for being a rare ambassador for the game, and have admired her potential to stability her taking part in profession, her household and her broadcast profession. Her legacy will stay on – within the rafters and within the hearts of followers in every single place.”
Parker arguably had as a lot influence on the W as anybody, alongside names comparable to Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Sue Chicken, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, plus a number of others. It’s a choose group.
“We’re seeing it develop in its due time,” Wilson informed Ballislife. “When you’ve gotten greats like that which have laid the inspiration down for me and all of the youthful generations to only comply with that path. It’s actually one thing particular. So I’m grateful to have the ability to have these goats, these Corridor of Famers, to look as much as after I first entered the league, and now it’s my alternative. and others which are in my era proper now to proceed to put the inspiration for the following gamers to come back up.”
Parker deserves all of the flowers and respect from followers worldwide, gamers, and coaches throughout the WNBA due to her lasting influence on girls’s basketball.
