Candace Parker, the three-time WNBA champion and two-time MVP of the WNBA, announced her retirement on Sunday.
Parker declared on Instagram, “I’m retiring,” going into detail about her career and future goals.
The subject of Parker’s speech was her reasoning for quitting basketball after most recently signing with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
“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,” she stated. “My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.”
Among Parker’s many professional achievements are becoming the first player in WNBA history to win a championship with three separate teams and earning two NCAA titles while attending University of Tennessee in 2007 and 2008.
Parker has also won two gold medals at the Olympics.
The last game she played in 2023 was detailed in her goodbye statement.
“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,” as Parker put it.
Parker also received a congratulations post from the Las Vegas Aces.
“We can’t wait to see what the next chapter in her life has to offer. Thanks for the memories, Candace,” A quote from the team’s letter said.
Not only was Parker a brilliant basketball player, but she also frequently discussed how she managed to juggle motherhood and professional sports. Last year, Parker shared on Instagram her dedication to motherhood. “Being a mom is THE most important aspect of who I identify as. No matter how many hats I may wear, being a mom always IS NUMBER 1!”
Parker emphasized in her retirement post how important it has been to her to be true to herself throughout her career and how appreciative she is to everyone who has supported her.
“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,”. She wrote, “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.”
After finishing her basketball career, Parker stated that she intends to explore business options with “the same intensity & focus I did basketball.” including private equity, team ownership, broadcasting, production, and more.
She sent a final message to the active WNBA players. “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.”
Parker ended her message by including the lyrics to the song “Dear Summer” by Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z.
