Legendary basketball player Candace Parker has announced her retirement after 16 seasons in the WNBA that included three titles—one with the Chicago Sky, in 2021.
"I promised I'd never cheat the game & that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it," Parker wrote on Instagram, according to Yahoo! Sports. "The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it's time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it."
Her list of awards is extensive, including two MVP awards, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. She is the only WNBA player to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season (2008). She played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks before transferring to Chicago.
Prior to playing in the WNBA, Parker also had a celebrated college career, winning two national titles at the University of Tennessee under iconic coach Pat Summitt. Parker also won two gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics for Team USA.
Last year, Parker left the Sky to play with the Las Vegas Aces, Windy City Times previously noted. At the time, Parker (who has a wife and children) stated, "While Chicago will always be my home, my family's home is on the West Coast. I'm forever appreciative of everyone in Chicago—our fans, teammates, coaches and ownership. But more than the past two seasons, I'm thankful to the city that raised me, the childhood friends I still have to this day, the teachers I still am learning from, and the moments in time that will forever be in my heart."
—Andrew Davis