Candace Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP, has announced her retirement after 16 seasons in a social media post on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Parker played her first 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks before joining the Las Vegas Aces, with whom she won a championship last season.
Throughout her career, Parker achieved several milestones, including being the first player in WNBA history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season in 2008.
She also became the first player to win championships with three different teams: the Sparks in 2016, the Chicago Sky in 2021, and the Aces in 2023.
In her retirement announcement, Parker expressed gratitude to the game and acknowledged the timing was right, despite the competitor in her always wanting to play more.