WNBA, Tennessee legend Candace Parker announces retirement from basketball

Candace Parker shared some stunning news Sunday afternoon when she announced her retirement from the WNBA after a tremendous 16-year career.

Parker alerted fans of her retirement with a post on her Instagram page, sharing a long message to announce she’s hanging up her sneakers. You can see that further below.

As a player, Parker is undisputedly one of the greats to ever play the women’s game. Over her 16 years, she won two MVP awards and three WBNBA titles with three different teams, a feat only she has achieved in the WNBA. Of course, she also won back-to-back NCAA Women’s titles at Tennessee as a college player too.

In 2016, the Los Angeles Sparks first won a title with Parker leading the way. After a long stint in LA, she eventually went to Chicago and took the Sky to the championship after they only went 16-16 in the regular season. Thenin 2023, with the Las Vegas Aces, Parker triumphed one last time at 37 years old to win another title.

Here was her goodbye message:

“I’m retiring. I promised I’d never cheat the game & that I’d leave it in a better place than I came into it. The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time. My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.

“I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love. What 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.

“This offseason hasn’t been fun on a foot that isn’t cooperating. It’s no fun playing in pain (10 surgeries in my career) it’s no fun knowing what you could do, if only…it’s no fun hearing “she isn’t the same” when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact you need surgery AGAIN.

“I fell in love with a little orange ball at 13 years old and BECAUSE of it my world goes ‘round. The highs are unmatched & the lows taught me lessons. On & off the court I’m proud I’ve always been true & stayed true to ME, even when it wasn’t popular.

“I’m grateful that for 16 years I PLAYED A GAME for a living & DESPITE all the injuries, I hooped. I’m grateful for family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers & fans who made this journey so special.

“In the mean time, know IM A BUSINESS, man, not a businessman. This is the beginning…I’m attacking business, private equity, ownership (I will own both a NBA & WNBA team), broadcasting, production, boardrooms, beach volleyball, dominoes (sorry babe it’s going to get more real) with the same intensity & focus I did basketball.

“My mission in life, like Pat Summitt always said, is to “chase people and passions and you will never fail.” Being a wife & mom still remains priority #1 & I’ve learned that time flies, so I plan to enjoy my family to the fullest!

“Today’s players: ENJOY IT. No matter how you prepare for it, you won’t be ready for the gap it leaves in your soul. Forgive me as I mourn a bit, but I’ll be back loving the game differently in a while.”