In a moving ceremony, Candace Parker saw her number 3 jersey hung high in the Crypto.com Arena, a deserved tribute to her brilliant career in women’s basketball.
A Legacy of Success
The player, selected as the number one pick in the 2006 WNBA draft, forged a 16-year career full of successes. She won championships with three different teams: the Sparks, her hometown Sky, and Las Vegas. Her outstanding performance earned her the WNBA Finals MVP award in 2016. Parker joins legend Lisa Leslie (No. 9) and Penny Toler (No. 11) as the only Sparks players with their jersey retired.I represent someone who comes from a family that told me I could do and be anything. I am very proud of that girl. I think I would do things exactly the same way because that’s why I am here. I made mistakes and took two steps forward and one step back, but I was always moving forward.
Candace Parker
During the first timeout, Parker, wearing orange in honor of her college days, received a standing ovation. Fans received yellow t-shirts with the phrase “That’s our Ace” and the number 3.
This was the first of two jersey retirement ceremonies for Parker, as Chicago will also retire his jersey later this summer. In her 13 years with the Sparks, Parker left an indelible mark, with memorable moments and challenges overcome. She was twice WNBA MVP with the Sparks, in 2008 and 2013. In addition, she is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists, with 1,331, and ranks second in rebounds and points. His averages were 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists, as well as 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals. During her second season, Parker gave birth to a daughter, Lailaa Williams, who is now 16 years old and was always a welcome presence at Parker’s practices and games in Los Angeles. Since she ended her career as a player in 2023, Parker has worked as a commentator and author.
