Candace Parker retires, closing a legendary 16-season WNBA profession

On Sunday, Candace Parker introduced her retirement from skilled basketball after 16 years. On Instagram, she wrote:

I’m retiring.

I promised I’d by no means cheat the sport & that I’d depart it in a greater place than I got here into it. The competitor in me at all times desires 1 extra, nevertheless it’s time. My HEART & physique knew, however I wanted to present my thoughts time to simply accept it.

I at all times needed to stroll off the court docket with no parade or tour, simply privately with those I really like. What now was to be my final sport, I walked off the court docket with my daughter. I ended the journey simply as I began it, along with her.

In 2008, Parker arrived within the WNBA with a great deal of expectations. The No. 1 decide within the draft by the Los Angeles Sparks after profitable two nationwide titles at Tennessee, she was the avatar of the subsequent technology of ladies’s basketball, possessing a sport-shaking mixture of athleticism, size, talent, savvy and smarts. She was a 6-foot-4 level ahead with the power to swat a shot, corral the ball, run the break and sure…dunk. As a rookie, she achieved a feat seemingly by no means to be replicated in WNBA historical past, profitable each the Rookie of the 12 months and MVP awards. From there, her ascent into the rarest air of basketball iconicity was not as clean or seamless as imagined—however she nonetheless acquired there.

She missed the start of the 2009 season after giving start to her daughter, Lailaa. Her 2010 and 2011 seasons then can be marred by accidents. By 2013, nevertheless, she was again on the prime of her sport, profitable her second MVP award. In 2016, she lastly captured that elusive WNBA championship, main the Sparks to trophy mere months after Pat Summitt, her beloved faculty coach, misplaced her battle with Alzheimer’s illness. Whereas Parker wouldn’t expertise a storybook ending in LA, she emerged as a hometown hero in Chicago, signing with the Sky in 2021 and delivering the group its first title that very same season. In her closing season, she suited up for the Las Vegas Aces, when, though sidelined by a foot harm, she closed out her profession with a 3rd title.

One of many sport’s GOATs, Parker might be assured that she did “depart [the game] in a greater place than I got here into it.”

Happily for us, Parker will not be going wherever. She emphasised:

For the time being, know IM A BUSINESS, man, not a businessman. That is the start…I’m attacking enterprise, personal fairness, possession (I’ll personal each a NBA & WNBA workforce), broadcasting, manufacturing, boardrooms, seashore volleyball, dominoes (sorry babe it’s going to get extra actual) with the identical depth & focus I did basketball.

She additional famous:

My mission in life, like Pat Summitt at all times mentioned, is to “chase individuals and passions and you’ll by no means fail.” Being a spouse & mother nonetheless stays precedence #1 & I’ve realized that point flies, so I plan to get pleasure from my household to the fullest!

Congratulations Candace!