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Sparks will retire from the third jersey worn by Candice Parker at halftime in Sunday’s game against Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena.
“It’s a real honor to see her hanging from the rafters among other legends,” Parker said in a statement released on March 27 when Sparks announced she would retire her jersey. “I’m not the only one at this moment, it’s about incredible support from my family, my teammates and the Las Parks organization and fans.
“I am grateful to my parents who believed in me. I am still in stages and am grateful to my brother, who is still my hero, and to my wife and children who inspire me every day. Staples Center raised Leila. [her daughter] And this was her playground.
“Keeping an assist record reminds me that basketball is never about individual success, it is about elevating others and being part of something bigger than you.
Sparks described the ceremony as celebrating Parker’s “impact on franchise, WNBA and basketball games.” She will be joined by teammates, coaches and special guests. A video montage appears, highlighting her biggest moments in 13 seasons with Sparks.
The ceremony will promote Parker’s book, “The Can Do Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, How to Follow Your Heart, Fight for Your Passion.”
Parker’s jersey retires third by a team that began playing in 1997. Others are number 9 worn by Lisa Leslie and number 11 worn by Penny Tora.
Parker is a franchise leader with 1,331 assists. She is second in scoring averages (16.9), rebounds (2,902), defensive rebounds (2,359), and free throws (1,153). Third with points (5,684), steel (446), field goals (2,136), field goal percentage (.482), and three-point basketball (768). He then placed fourth in the game (337) and an offensive rebound (543).
After leading Tennessee to consecutive NCAA championships, Sparks chose 6’4″ power in the No. 1 selection in the 2008 draft, and was named both the best player in the tournament.
Parker quickly demonstrated that she was a professional, earning 34 points in her debut and a WNBA record of 34 points, scoring in the league’s first game. In her 12th game, she became the second WNBA player in the dunk.
Parker was named 2008 MVP and Rookie of the Year as Sparks improved from 10-24 to 20-14. She was also a 2013 MVP, 2016 Final MVP, 2020 Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Star selection.
She was a member of the WNBA 20th Anniversary Team and the team that won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 US Olympics.
Parker missed the first eight games of the 2009 season and played on July 5 after giving birth to his daughter, Laila on May 13, 2009.
Parker left Sparks via free agency following the 2020 season and signed with Chicago Sky, who helped out with the 2021 WNBA Championship. Sora will retire from her third jersey later this season, making her the second WNBA player and retiring the jersey with two teams. The other was that Lindsay Warren retired her jersey to both the Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx.
Parker played his final season with the Ace in Las Vegas in 2023, taking part in the WNBA Championship.
Parker, 39, will become a studio and gaming analyst for Prime Video’s NBA coverage this fall, leading the streaming service’s expanded WNBA coverage starting next season. She was a game and studio analyst for TNT’s NBA coverage from 2018 until the end of her contract earlier this year.
Basketball Hall of Fame Year Bin “Magic” Johnson, co-owner of Sparks, is called “the best all-round player he’s ever played in the WNBA.”
“Her legacy is immeasurable,” Johnson said in a statement. “She redefines excellence, is a champion on the court, a champion in the Los Angeles community, and has influenced countless fans and future generations of athletes.
“There are few champions who can see jerseys hanging from the rafters of this city. Retirement Candice’s third jersey is a tribute to the enduring mark she left behind in the organization, the WNBA and the city of Los Angeles. She will forever be a part of the Sparks family.”
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