Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA season, Candace Parker played 13 seasons with the Lakers’ sister team, which also wears purple and gold.
During that time, as Finals MVP, she led the Sparks to a championship in 2016 and was a two-time League MVP. Additionally, she was a five-time All-Star in LA and a member of six WNBA First Teams and three Second Teams.
In the 2013 season, she led the L in assists with 6.2 per game. She led the league in rebounding for three separate seasons. All-time with the Sparks, Parker is third in points (5,684), steals (546), and three-pointers made (239).
Three really is the magic number for her jersey, as Candace is also first in assists (1,331) and games played (337) and second in free throws made (1,153), rebounds (2,902), and blocked shots (515). She led the league in blocks per game in both 2009 and 2012. If that wasn’t enough, the former Defensive Player of the Year is the only player in WNBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season.
No wonder, CP3 was getting her jersey retired in LA last night.
And what a game to have it retired in, as the Sparks took on the Chicago Sky. This is the team Candace joined after leaving Los Angeles, returning to her Illinois roots.
Despite strong showings from former Las Vegas Aces Kelsey Plum (22 points) and Dearica Hamby (20 points), the Sky brought LA back down to earth with a 92–85 win, behind Angel Reese’s incredible line of 24 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal.
Even though the only Ace that really mattered last night was the one Adidas created, a floral tribute for outside the arena, ‘That’s our Ace’ t-shirts graced every fan’s seat for the game.
The Sparks also had a strong showing from Azurá Stevens (17 points), who stood in for the injured sophomore star Cameron Brink. Brink is the future of LA, and the big would have loved to have shown out in front of the former Sparks star who makes her legend official—much like teammate Lisa Leslie did before her.
The first Sparks icon was also in attendance to honour her former running mate. Video messages from former owner Magic Johnson and her head coach, Michael Cooper, were also displayed on the jumbotron.
Magic. Cooper. Kareem. Shaq. Two Kobe’s. Pau Gasol. James Worthy. Jaamal Wilkes. Wilt Chamberlain. Gail Goodrich. Elgin Baylor and the late great logo Jerry West. There are many Lakers in the rafters, yet Candace Parker becomes only the third Spark after Lisa Leslie’s number nine and general manager Penny Toler.
“LA isn’t just about ball for me anymore. It’s now where we call home, and we will forever call home,” the Sparks superstar said, decked out in beautiful burnt orange like the Lady Vols, who also retired her college number.
Candace Parker won her first chip with the Sparks, fittingly against the Chicago Sky. Come August, her jersey will also find a home in the rafters of the Windy City.
