From the vibrant orange-and-purple No. 3 floral arrangement greeting fans outside Crypto.com Arena to the heartfelt montage that played inside and to the thunderous ovations that followed her every step, the afternoon was unforgettable, despite the hometown Los Angeles Sparks dropping a 92-85 decision to the Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon.
Resplendently dressed in a bright orange pantsuit, Parker received her flowers during a powerful celebration honoring her legacy while she could still feel, hear, and embrace it.
At halftime and surrounded by her family, following a stirring video chronicling her journey and poignant speeches from Lisa Leslie and Parker herself, Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” played as a black curtain, revealing her gold No. 3 jersey already mounted high on the sacred walls. A majority of the fans stood, shouted, and applauded.
“Normally I go off the cuff, off the dome, no pen, like Jay Z, but today I decided to write a couple of words,” Parker said to the crowd Parker said to the crowd reverently after taking the microphone from Leslie and hugging her tightly. “So, you’ll have to excuse me. As a kid from Chicago land, my idea of Hollywood was through basketball. It wasn’t the glitz and glam or the red carpets.”
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Parker becomes the third Spark to have her jersey hang in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena, forming an exclusive trinity alongside Leslie (No. 9) and Penny Toler (No. 11). Parker earned her flowers by nurturing a garden that generations will benefit from with her brilliance.
Throughout her extraordinary career, Parker played like an artist capturing the perfect light during a picturesque sunset or a selfie taker hitting the correct angles.
“I am humbled to have number three up there amongst the greatest,” Parker said near the conclusion of her halftime speech. “I don’t take that for granted. I do not take that for granted at all. I say thank you for this celebration. It means the world to me. I’ve seen a bunch of familiar faces that helped me throughout my journey.
“I’m grateful for my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, the ownership of the entire Sparks organization, my Adidas fam, my Turner fam, doctors, physical therapists, shoot, even the refs, I appreciate them as well. You know, the big thing is to always have a foundation in the little things. This jersey going up in the rafters is no different.”
Despite numerous sprains, strains, bruises, bumps, and broken bones, she consistently painted masterpieces that helped elevate the game, which is why the crowd featured numerous fans wearing gold No. 3 jerseys, Chicago Sky No. 3 jerseys, and even a rare white Tennessee No. 3 sign.
‘She made being a mom cool’
Parker’s impact was also evident in the way Sparks players honored her during their arrival to the game. The marquee in the cavernous underbelly of the arena that normally displays the game matchup instead featured a celebratory tribute to Parker. Sparks players posed for photos in front of the illuminating sign that read “Candace Parker Jersey Retirement #3.”
Los Angeles Sparks players Dearica Hamby and Mercedes Russell understood the assignment by wearing a black dress and purple jersey with Parker’s No. 3 on it, respectively. The Sparks wore black warm-up t-shirts with Parker’s career accolades on the front and her name and number on the back.
As a mother of two kids who competes at an elite level, Hamby has always been influenced by Parker, who continues to be a perfect ambassador for the WNBA, as well as a terrific role model for young people and working mothers.
“Candace has always been a mentor for me in that way,” Hamby told reporters postgame. “She made being a mom cool, and that it was possible to do both… I got drafted after not expecting to play basketball after college and… [When] having your first kid, you don’t know what to expect [or] if you can continue to play. She’s always… inspiring me in that way. I’m grateful for her and our friendship.”
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The Sparks added a thoughtful touch to the occasion, placing a gold t-shirt on every seat that read “That’s our Ace 3”—giving fans a unique keepsake to mark the day. As they exited the arena, each fan received a single yellow rose, a gesture of gratitude for celebrating Parker’s extraordinary career. There were tribute videos throughout the game from former coach Michael Cooper, former teammates Alana Beard, Chelsea Gray, and Nneka Ogwumike, as well as part-owner of the Sparks and NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
Meanwhile, media members packed the Chick Hearn Media Room, some arriving 40 minutes before Parker’s scheduled 12:40 p.m. press conference, trying to secure prime seating. When she walked in 18 minutes late, she saw a standing-room-only gallery of lenses, iPhones, and microphones.
“I lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere else, and so it’s super important for me to be able to see this jersey in the rafters before any of the other ones,” Parker said to reporters pregame about the significance of having her jersey retired. “My 13 years here were super special. It was ups and downs, wins and losses, heartbreaks and rewards. I think it is just super special to be able to share that with the teammates and coaches and organization that you know bet on me and picked me first in the 2008 WNBA Draft.”
‘She deserves it’
Parker is a living bridge to the past, present, and future. Parker elevated the sport, inspired a generation, and left the game better than she found it. The day after her jersey was retired, the WNBA announced it will expand to 18 teams by 2030 with franchises in Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia.
Parker’s versatility and ability enabled Angel Reese to envision playing in the WNBA one day. It seemed only appropriate that on an afternoon celebrating greatness, the second-year Sky forward enjoyed an exceptional performance in front of Parker and Leslie.
In addition to entering the Sky’s top 10 franchise leaderboard for rebounds with 647 after, Reese powered the Sky’s victory by scoring a season-high 24 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and delivering seven assists while making 52.6% of her shots (10-for-19). Reese became the fourth player in league history to record that stat line – and first in 13 years – joining Leslie, Parker, and Tina Thompson.
Reese also enjoyed her fourth consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds, becoming the first player in WNBA history to accomplish this feat.
“I looked up to her because she was very versatile,” Reese said about Parker to The Next pregame. “So, everything that she’s done for Los Angeles and Chicago has been amazing. Being able to be here in L.A. to honor her career and everything that she’s done on and off the court is going to be amazing. I’m happy to be a part of this celebration, and I know she deserves it.”
One of One
Parker never cheated the game, and in return, the game gave her a legacy for the ages. Parker is one of one. She’s the only player in WNBA history to win championships with three different franchises: the Sparks (2016), the Sky (2021), and the Aces (2023). She’s also the only player ever to be named both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, redefining distinction from the moment she entered the league wearing an elegant white pantsuit on draft day.
In addition, she’ll become the first WNBA player to have her jersey retired by two franchises when the Chicago Sky retire her No. 3 jersey on August 25 against the Las Vegas Aces.
She earned WNBA MVP honors in both 2008 and 2013 and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Before turning pro, Parker led Tennessee to back-to-back national championships under the legendary Pat Summit in 2007 and 2008. She also captured Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2008 and 2012. That’s just a CliffsNotes version of her impact.
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Parker grew up during an era when playing in the WNBA was a reality. She was teammates with Lisa Leslie and A’ja Wilson. Parker appeared on the covers of national magazines while in high school. She attended games. And then, she became the standard. Parker’s seamless versatility, dunking ability, and capacity to combine textbook fundamentals with mesmerizing flair expanded what was possible in women’s basketball.
Playing with the delicate strength of a flower refusing to wilt, Parker’s smooth game was so breathtakingly beautiful that it should have been a Louvre art exhibit.
A young Brittney Griner remembers once watching Parker in awe, quietly daring to believe that one day she would emulate her.
“I take it back to college,” Griner told reporters before the Dream’s game in Washington on June 15. “I remember being in high school and seeing her dunking, and I was just like, yo, that’s dope. I want to do that. I want to be like that. She’s done it on multiple teams. Not a lot of players can go to different teams and win while making the next team better. She’s done it overseas. She’s done it here. She’s one of the greats to play in this game.”
“I did it my way”
Family, faith, and resilience sustained Parker during her phenomenal career.
Her journey wasn’t easy. Beneath her angelic smile lies the heart of a lion and an iron will. Parker’s been knocked down several times with injuries, and she’s suffered heartbreaking setbacks, which she detailed in her new book, “Can-Do Mindset.”
Parker displayed championship hallmarks of great character and resilience in how she picked herself up and continued persevering until she finally reached the champagne-soaked promised land in 2016.
Washington’s Stefanie Dolson was a member of the Chicago Sky when they won a championship together. She remembers witnessing Parker’s passion and persistence – even during practices.
“She treated every practice like it was a game,” Dolson said following the Mystics’ overtime victory over the Dallas Wings on June 22. “She was always intense and super focused, talking to us about being locked in with film and stuff. Having her come to Chicago at that moment was just the cherry on top for us. She was the piece of the puzzle that was missing for us to win. She’s one of those players that I was happy to play with, and the fact I got the chance to win a championship with her was incredible.”
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With a relentless drive to continually improve herself on the floor, Parker has applied that same determination to create spaces in boardrooms for women, which may be her most admirable quality. She has used her platform and status to uplift and empower others. She has spoken on panels and challenged men to make sure they pull up a chair or two for women at every table in rooms where critical decisions are made.
“Seeing the three in the rafters where I first picked up the ball and where it’s home now is incredible,” Parker told reporters pregame. “It is about dreams, opportunities, and all those things. You look at where the WNBA is right now. I know there will be others alongside me, so I hope that inspires those little girls out there.
“I’m super grateful for playing the game for as long as I was able to play, but I know the game prepared me for this phase of life. I want to be in an ownership position, but I also want to continue to impact the game on this side. So, doing that alongside Adidas has been super special for me as the president of women’s basketball. And, then, I think the Jay-Z song that describes right now is probably the Frank Sinatra remix. I did it my way.”
She sure did.
The long road of rehab. The sacrifices. The pain. The memories. The championships. All of it was worth it for Parker, who embraced an emotional afternoon and reminded fans to savor their journey.
While the day, the occasion, and the flowers belonged to Parker, she gave gifts that will linger forever – grace, grit, and generational change – for the millions of fans fortunate to witness her greatness.
