Candace Parker always said she鈥檇 know when it would be time to retire. That day came Sunday.
The three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist announced on social media that her career was over after 16 seasons.
鈥淭he competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it鈥檚 time,鈥� Parker wrote in an Instagram post. 鈥淢y HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.鈥�
Parker, 38, had told The Associated Press in November she wanted to play another season if she could get healthy from a foot injury that kept her off the court last season. But she cautioned that she didn鈥檛 want to 鈥渃heat the game,鈥� or herself, and expressed the same in announcing her retirement ahead of the Aces鈥� attempt to win a third title in a row. Parker has had 10 surgeries over her career.
鈥淚 promised I鈥檇 never cheat the game & that I鈥檇 leave it in a better place than I came into it. 鈥� I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淲hat now was to be my last game, I walked off the court with my daughter. I ended the journey just as I started it, with her.鈥�
Parker played her first 13 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, establishing her dominance early as a No. 1 pick who won Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season. Parker was the only WNBA player to accomplish that feat, averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while helping the Sparks to a 10-win improvement in 2008.
Parker earned her second MVP award in 2013 and won her first title in 2016 with the Sparks. She鈥檇 go on to win a second title with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and a third with the Las Vegas Aces last season. She鈥檚 the only player in league history to win a championship with three different teams.
鈥淭he memories Candace Parker created for a generation of women鈥檚 basketball fans will remain ingrained in our collective conscience forever, but she has given so much more to the game beyond her accolades and statistics,鈥� The Aces said in a statement. 鈥淎s a teammate and mentor, a mother and wife, a baller, broadcaster, and businesswoman she has inspired countless young people, both boys and girls, to chase and achieve their dreams.鈥�
Parker played for the late Pat Summitt鈥檚 last two national championship teams at Tennessee in 2007 and 2008. She then left with one year of eligibility remaining.
She won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 before shockingly being left off the 2016 team.
鈥淚 think obviously Candace has had an amazing career. I鈥檓 a little bit sad about it because you love going up against her, the legend that she is,鈥� Liberty star Breanna Stewart said. 鈥淲hat she has done on and off the court has been amazing for our league. Appreciate all she鈥檚 done to help me get to where I am. We鈥檒l definitely miss her this season.鈥�
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello coached Parker overseas in Russia for a few years during the winter.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a trailblazer. Just a wonderful human being and what she鈥檚 done for this sport,鈥� Brondello said. 鈥楬opefully it鈥檚 celebrated. I鈥檝e got a lot of respect for her. Our kids grew up together when I was coaching in Russia. It鈥檚 kind of sad. Everyone knows when it鈥檚 the right time.鈥�
Parker began working in broadcasting during her playing career. She has worked as an analyst for the NCAA Tournament with CBS Sports and for NBA TV.
She had surgery on her foot in July 2023 and told the AP it still pained her at the end of last year.
鈥淭his offseason hasn鈥檛 been fun on a foot that isn鈥檛 cooperating,鈥� she wrote in her post Sunday. 鈥淢y mission in life, like Pat Summitt always said, is to 鈥榗hase people and passions and you will never fail.鈥� Being a wife & mom still remains priority #1 & I鈥檝e learned that time flies, so I plan to enjoy my family to the fullest!鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Ryan Kryska in Hoboken, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
