Candace Parker’s Run With the Los Angeles Sparks
Candace Parker, the sports broadcaster and Adidas president of women’s basketball, was honored on Sunday during the halftime game between the Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks with a heartfelt tribute to her contributions to the franchise.
Parker was drafted in 2008 as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks. She quickly made an impact in her rookie year, averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year and went on to win the prestigious Most Valuable Player award, becoming one of the first to do so. She earned the same award again in 2013. During her time with the franchise, she led the team to the 2016 championship. In the championship game against the Minnesota Lynx, she was named the WNBA Finals MVP.
Parker also won two more championships, one with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and another with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
Other Achievements
Candace played in the WNBA All-Star Games seven times and was named to the WNBA First Team seven times. In 2020, she was the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and in 2015, she was named the Assist Leader for the season. During the off-season with Los Angeles, she played international basketball, including the Euroleague, the Russian League, and China.
Career Rocked by Injuries
One of the GOATs, Candace, her career with the Los Angeles franchise was not short of injuries, but she defied all odds to show up for the franchise. In 2010, she suffered from a torn left shoulder (shoulder labrum) and underwent surgery, which sidelined her for the entire season. In 2011, she tore her right knee lateral meniscus, which had her sidelined for six weeks and also missed out on the All-Star Games despite being voted a starter. In 2019, she suffered a left hamstring injury, which sidelined her for weeks and she played fewer games this season.
Despite these setbacks, Candace Parker returned each time with renewed energy and eagerness to play and contribute significantly to the team’s overall success.
Other Los Angeles Sparks Retired Jerseys
Candace joins Lisa Leslie (9) and Penny Toler (11) as the only three players to receive this honor in the franchise.
Chicago Retirement
Candace will have her Chicago jersey retired in August later this year to honor her time with the franchise. She will join Lindsay Whalen (Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx) as the only two WNBA players to have their jerseys retired by two franchises.
