Candace Parker Retires from Professional Basketball after 16-Season Career as Three-Time WNBA Champion and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker has announced her retirement from professional basketball after a 16-year career. In an emotional social media post on Sunday, the two-time Olympic gold medallist revealed that although her competitive spirit still longed for more victories, she felt it was time to hang up her boots at the age of 38.
Parker had previously expressed a desire to play another season if she could overcome a foot injury which kept her out of action last year. However, in November she told The Associated Press that she didn’t want to “cheat the game” or herself and hinted at similar sentiments when announcing her retirement ahead of Las Vegas Aces’ bid for an unprecedented third consecutive title.
Parker began her WNBA career with a bang, winning Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in 2008 after being selected as the number one pick by Los Angeles Sparks. She became the first player to achieve this double feat in league history, averaging an impressive 18.5 points per game alongside 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists during her debut season with the team.
The star centre went on to win a second MVP award with the Sparks in 2013 before securing her first WNBA title as part of Chicago Sky’s historic squad five years later, joining fellow Hall of Famer Diana Taurasi and Seattle Storm superstar Sue Bird as the only players ever to have won championships with three different teams.
Parker played for legendary coach Pat Summitt during her time at Tennessee University, helping the Lady Volunteers win back-to-back NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008 before embarking on a glittering professional career which saw her earn gold medals as part of Team USA’s triumphant efforts in both the Beijing Olympics (2008) and London Games (2012).
As well as excelling on court, Parker has also enjoyed success off it, developing a flourishing media profile with work as an analyst for NBA TV and CBS Sports during her playing career. However, she now intends to focus more fully on family life following surgery on her foot last year which continues to cause discomfort.
“This offseason hasn’t been fun because my foot isn’t cooperating,” Parker explained in a statement released via social media. “My mission in life… Is still priority number one: To ‘chase people and passions,’ just as Pat Summitt always said, and I plan to enjoy my family to the fullest!”
The Aces paid tribute to Parker’s considerable talents on court, commending her role not only as a “dominant force” but also as an inspirational figure both within basketball circles and beyond. In their own statement released shortly after news of Parker’s retirement broke, they praised her for being more than just another WNBA superstar: “As 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.”