Candace Parker Honored with Jersey Retirement in Emotional Ceremony
Candace Parker had a night to remember as her No. 3 jersey was lifted to the rafters of Crypto.com Arena during a special halftime ceremony at the Los Angeles Sparks game against the Chicago Sky.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
Candace Parker had a night to remember as her No. 3 jersey was lifted to the rafters of Crypto.com Arena during a special halftime ceremony at the Los Angeles Sparks game against the Chicago Sky.
Surrounded by her family, Parker was celebrated for her trailblazing career and deep impact on the WNBA and the Sparks franchise. A two-time league MVP (2008, 2013), she leads the Sparks in career assists with 1,331 and ranks second in both points and rebounds. Over her 13 seasons with L.A., she averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.
Selected first overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft out of Tennessee, Parker spent 13 of her 16 WNBA seasons with the Sparks. She helped lead the team to a championship in 2016, earning WNBA Finals MVP honors. She later added titles with her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021 and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023, her final season.
“You are one of the greatest to ever wear a Sparks jersey,” said former coach Michael Cooper during the tribute.
Parker, 39, becomes just the third Sparks player to have her jersey retired, joining Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie (No. 9) and Penny Toler (No. 11). Her number now hangs alongside Lakers greats at Crypto.com Arena.
“That means you’re a super, super, superstar in the game of basketball to be right up there next to me, Kareem, Kobe, and so many greats,” said Lakers legend Magic Johnson. “That will be a special moment and a great way to say to herself, ‘Look at me, I really have arrived.’”
Dressed in an orange outfit as a nod to her Tennessee roots, Parker received a standing ovation as she walked onto the court during the game’s first timeout. Fans were gifted commemorative yellow jerseys reading “That’s Our Ace” with the number 3 incorporated into the design.
“I represent coming from a family that told me I could do and be anything,” Parker said. “I’m really proud of that kid. I think I’d do things exactly the same way because it’s why I’m sitting here. I made mistakes and took two steps forward and one back, but I was always moving forward.”
