On Thursday evening, the LA Sparks announced that they would be retiring the jersey of their former superstar, Candace Parker.
On June 29th, Parker’s no.3 jersey will be raised to the rafters and hang alongside two other Sparks legends- Lisa Leslie (no.9) and Penny Toller (no.11).
Shout out to Candace Parker, who will have her LA Sparks no. 3 jersey retired on June 29th.
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) March 27, 2025
Parker, who won a WNBA title (2016) & 2 WNBA MVPs (2008, 2013) with LA, joins Lisa Leslie (No. 9) and Penny Toler (No. 11) as the only players to have their jerseys retired by LA. 🏀✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/ZAXDEYtWX4
Drafted by LA out of Tennessee with the number one overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker made an immediate impact on the team and in the league.
She was a 5x WNBA All-Star, won two MVP awards (2008, 2013), was the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and also led the Sparks to its third WNBA title in 2016. In addition, Parker is the franchise’s all-time assists holder (1,331) and ranks second in Sparks history in rebounds and third in points.
Parker spent 13 seasons in LA and averaged 16.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 3.9 apg.
She left the team after the 2020 season and signed with her hometown Chicago Sky in 2021 and won her second WNBA title in the Windy City. In 2023, she signed with the Las Vegas Aces and won her third and final title before retiring and becoming a successful sports broadcaster and the President of Adidas Women’s Basketball.
This June, she will return to LA, where she got her start, to be honored for all she did for the team in her 13-year career with the Sparks.
“To see my jersey hanging in the rafters amongst other legends is truly an honor. This moment is not just about me — it’s about my family, my teammates, and the incredible support from the LA Sparks organization and fans,” said Candace Parker in a statement. “I’m grateful to my parents, who believed in me every step of the way, to my brothers who still are my heroes and to my wife and kids, who inspire me every day. The Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) raised Lailaa and this was her playground growing up. Holding the record for assists reminds me that basketball is never just about individual success — it’s about elevating others and being a part of something bigger than yourself. This jersey represents all the moments, all the connections, and all the love that got me here.”
