The Los Angeles Sparks will retire Sparks legend Candace Parker\u2019s No. 3 jersey at\u00a0Crypto.com\u00a0Arena at halftime of the team\u2019s game against the Chicago Sky on June 29 (3 p.m. PT), the organization announced Thursday. The seven-time WNBA All-Star will become the third Spark to have her jersey hang in the rafters of\u00a0Crypto.com\u00a0Arena, forming an exclusive trio that includes Lisa Leslie (No. 9), and Penny Toler (No. 11).<\/p>\n
“To see my jersey hanging in the rafters amongst other legends is truly an honor.\u00a0 This moment is not just about me \u2014 it\u2019s about my family, my teammates, and the incredible support from the LA Sparks organization and fans,\u201d said Candace Parker. \u201cI\u2019m 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\u00a0Crypto.com\u00a0Arena) raised Lailaa and this was her playground growing up. Holding the record for assists reminds me that basketball is never just about individual success \u2014 it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sparks will honor Parker\u2019s legacy with a special jersey retirement ceremony, celebrating her impact on the franchise, the WNBA, and the game of basketball. The night will feature a halftime on-court tribute with appearances from former teammates, coaches, and special guests, along with a video montage highlighting her greatest moments in a Sparks uniform.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to honoring Parker\u2019s career with the Sparks, the team is excited to support the launch of her book,\u00a0The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions. As part of the celebration, the Sparks will integrate special book-themed activations leading up to and during the jersey retirement ceremony, giving fans the opportunity to engage with Candace\u2019s story both on and off the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cCandace Parker has left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles Sparks, not only as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but as a true ambassador of our franchise and women\u2019s basketball as a whole. Beginning with her arrival to the City of Angels in 2008, she not only lived up to the expectations placed on her as a two-time Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year and NCAA National Champion, she far exceeded them. Her unparalleled skill, relentless drive, and leadership elevated the Sparks to new heights and set a new standard of greatness,\u201d said Sparks Co-Owner Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson. \u201cCandace is the best all-around player that has ever played in the WNBA. Her legacy is immeasurable \u2014 she redefined excellence, was a champion on the court and for the Los Angeles community and inspired countless fans and future generations of athletes. Very few champions get to see their jersey hanging from the rafters in this city. Retiring Candace\u2019s No. 3 jersey is not just a celebration of her extraordinary career, but a tribute to the enduring mark she’s left on this organization, the WNBA, and the city of Los Angeles. She will forever be a part of the Sparks family.”<\/p>\n
“For 13 seasons, we had a front-row seat to excellence personified. Candace Parker\u2019s records and accolades speak for themselves, but her true impact lies in how she redefined what was possible in this sport,\u201d said Sparks Governor and Managing Partner Eric Holoman.\u00a0 \u201cShe inspired generations with her skill, leadership, and championship mentality, forging a legacy that goes beyond the trophies she won and the banners she raised\u2014she changed the game and elevated women\u2019s basketball. Candace defined an era for the Los Angeles Sparks, and her No. 3 will rightfully take its place among the legends of basketball and icons of Los Angeles. We are honored to retire her jersey and celebrate everything she has meant to this franchise, this city, and the game itself.”<\/p>\n
The star forward has won three WNBA Championships, delivering the Sparks\u2019 third and most recent WNBA Championship in 2016 and earning Finals Most Valuable Player honors. During her Sparks tenure, she was named WNBA MVP twice (2008, 2013), won 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was chosen as an All-Star five times. The forward holds the franchise\u2019s all-time assists record (1,331), places second in Los Angeles history in rebounds, ranks third in points, and has appeared in the fourth-most games.<\/p>\n
Parker played the first 13 seasons of her career with the Sparks (2008-20), averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 337 regular season games, shooting 48.2% from the field. Also known for her defensive tenacity, she averaged 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest as a Spark.<\/p>\n
Candace Parker\u2019s Rankings in Sparks Franchise History<\/p>\n
2nd\u00a0– Rebounds; Defensive Rebounds; Free Throws Made<\/p>\n
3rd\u00a0– Points; Steals; Field Goals Made; Field Goal%; Three-Pointers Made<\/p>\n
4th\u00a0– Games Played; Offensive Rebounds<\/p>\n
Selected No. 1 overall by Los Angeles in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Parker was named Rookie of the Year and MVP following her inaugural season after averaging 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.3%. In her WNBA debut against the Phoenix Mercury, she scored 34 points, setting the scoring record for a player\u2019s first game. About a month later, on June 22, Parker became the second player in WNBA history to dunk in a game. On July 5, 2009, she returned to the Sparks lineup a mere months after giving birth.<\/p>\n
Candace Parker\u2019s Notable Regular Season Performances as a Spark<\/p>\n
July 9, 2008\u00a0– Scored a career-high 40 points in win over Houston<\/p>\n
June 1, 2013\u00a0\u2013 Recorded a career-high 20 rebounds in a 20-20 game (27 points) against San Antonio<\/p>\n
July 28, 2017\u00a0\u2013 Posted a triple-double in a win over San Antonio, becoming the sixth WNBA player to record a triple-double<\/p>\n
Parker\u2019s 26 Western Conference Player of the Week honors (all with the Sparks) are the second-most Conference POW awards any WNBA player has garnered all-time and the most anyone has won with one team. During her Sparks tenure, Parker also won gold in both of her Olympic appearances with Team USA (2008 Beijing and 2012 London). Parker has been named to the WNBA\u2019s 20th and 25th Anniversary Teams, highlighting her as one of the greatest players in league history.<\/p>\n
Sparks individual game tickets go on sale March 31. Fans interested in purchasing tickets for Candace Parker\u2019s Jersey retirement celebration can visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.axs.com\/teams\/113921\/la-sparks-tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fans interested in preordering Candace Parker\u2019s upcoming book:\u00a0The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions\u00a0can do so by visiting iconic West Hollywood bookstore, Book Soup\u2019s official website at\u00a0https:\/\/www.booksoup.com\/pre-order-candace-parker<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Los Angeles Sparks will retire Sparks legend Candace Parker\u2019s No. 3 jersey at\u00a0Crypto.com\u00a0Arena at halftime of the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":325785,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":{"0":"post-325784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-sports","9":"tag-wnba"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=325784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/325785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=325784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=325784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=325784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}