After a historic 16-year WNBA career, basketball legend Candace Parker officially announced her retirement on Sunday via Instagram.

Parker is considered by many as one of the greatest players in women’s basketball history. At the high school level, she became the only two-time recipient of the USA Today High School Player of the Year award. She also went on to become the first woman to win the McDonald’s All-American Game dunk contest in 2004.

She would go on to commit to the University of Tennessee and play under the legendary Pat Summitt. At the collegiate level, Parker would go on to win back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2007 and 2008. She would win the Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in both years as well. Individually, she would win the Wooden Award in her junior and senior seasons as well.

Candace Parker’s WNBA Legacy

She would be selected first in the 2008 WNBA Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks where she spent the first 13 years of her career. In her debut game, she set a record for most points in a debut game with 34. Then, she was selected to the 2008 Olympic team where the United States would bring home gold.

Parker would go on to become the first and only WNBA player to win the Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player in the same season. She won another MVP award in 2013. She would win her first WNBA Championship in 2016 with the Sparks, helping them win their first title in 14 years. Parker won Finals MVP that year as well.

In 2021, she decided to sign a two-year deal with the Chicago Sky. In Chicago she’d aid the Sky to their first title in franchise history. She’d end her career as part of the Las Vegas Aces where she would win her third title. Candace Parker had retirement rumors since the 2023 championship, but she confirmed it right as training camp begins for the 2024 WNBA season.

She’s a seven-time all-star, ten-time All-WNBA, and a Defensive Player of the Year. She led the league in assists in 2015, and was a three-time rebounding champion.

In her retirement post, she said “Forgive me as I mourn a bit, but I’ll be back loving the game differently in a while.”

Congratulations on a phenomenal playing career, Candace!

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