Famed WNBA player Candace Parker reveals plans to end 16-year-long basketball career.
The top pick in the 2008 WNBA draft played for 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces.
Candace Parker, on Instagram, said, "I vowed I'd never cheat the game and I'd leave it in a better place than I found it. My competitive nature wants more, but it's time now." She continued, "This offseason wasn't pleasant as I had a foot that refused to cooperate. It's not fun playing in pain (had 10 surgeries throughout my career), not fun hearing 'she's not the same' when I know why, and not fun accepting that surgery is needed again."
A two-time WNBA MVP, Parker's retirement includes winning two Olympic gold medals. The 38-year-old made WNBA's Top 20 at 20 and W25, a collection of the 25 greatest and influential players. Parker was a 10-time All-WNBA honoree and a seven-time WNBA All-Star. In her time with the Sparks, the team made 11 playoff appearances, including a WNBA championship in 2016. Her first season with the team saw her becoming the first to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in 2008.
After joining the Sky in 2021, she led the team to its first championship in its initial year, and then played for the Aces for a while before a foot injury forced her to miss the rest of the championship-winning season.
The Aces, in a statement, said, "The dunks. The assists. The rebounds. The blocks. The smile. The swagger. The memories that Candace Parker created for a generation of women's basketball fans will remain etched in our minds forever. Although the majority of her career was with other teams, we are grateful to have had her be part of our championship team last year. We regret not having her as part of our three-peat plans, but we look forward to welcoming Candace back to Las Vegas as an Aces alum, and we can't wait to see what the next chapter in her life brings."
While attending college, Parker led the Tennessee Vols to two NCAA national championships in 2007 and 2008. For both title runs, she received the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.
Currently, she works as an analyst and commentator with Warner Bros. Discovery, featuring in NBA on TNT, NBA TV, and NCAA Tournament coverage.
"I fell in love with a small orange ball at the age of 13, and because of it, my world revolves around it," Parker said. "The highs are unparalleled, and the lows taught me lesions. On and off the court, I'm thankful for my true self." "I'm fortunate to have played this game professionally, despite all the injuries, and I'm grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers, and supporters who made my journey remarkable."
Candace Parker's contributions to the game of basketball go beyond her accolades and statistics. Her impact will be remembered by many future generations of fans.
Read also:
Source: edition.cnn.com
