Women’s basketball legend Candace Parker announced her retirement on social media on Sunday.
“I promised I would never cheat the game and leave it in a better place than where I entered it,” Parker posted on Instagram. “The competitor in me always wants one more, but it’s time. My HEART and my body knew it, but I had to give my mind time to accept it.”
Parker was sidelined with a foot injury for most of the 2023 campaign – her first with the Las Vegas Aces. She appeared in her final match on July 7.
“This offseason has not been fun with an uncooperative foot,” Parker posted. “It’s not fun to play in pain (10 surgeries in my career), it’s not fun to know what you could do, even just… it’s not fun to hearing “she’s not the same” when I know why, it’s no fun accepting the fact that you STILL need surgery.
Parker, 38, is one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, having won NCAA titles at Tennessee in 2007 and 2008 before being selected No. 1 in the 2008 WNBA draft. She won championships with the Los Angeles Sparks (2016, Finals MVP), his hometown Chicago Sky (2021) and the Aces (2023).
“The Las Vegas Aces family is grateful for the role Candace played during the 2023 WNBA championship season,” the team said in a statement, “and for giving us all the opportunity to watch one of the game’s GOATs over the past two decades.”
She was also a two-time league MVP (2008, ’13), a seven-time WNBA All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year (2020) and a two-time Olympian (2008, ’12).
“I’m grateful that I played a game for 16 years for a living and despite all the injuries, I played hoops,” Parker posted. “I am grateful to the family, friends, teammates, coaches, doctors, trainers and fans who made this journey so special.”
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