WNBA news: Chicago Sky to retire Candace Parker's No. 3 jersey
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Sky plan to retire Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey later this year.

The WNBA team made the announcement Wednesday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

A jersey retirement ceremony will be held during the Sky’s game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25 at Wintrust Arena.

“Growing up in Naperville and playing on the courts with my brothers, while following Chicago teams like the Bulls, who were known for their winning spirit, I never dreamed that one day my jersey would be displayed by my hometown team,” Parker stated. “Returning to Chicago and helping to secure the city’s first WNBA championship was deeply meaningful. I am immensely thankful to the city, the supporters, and everyone who has been a part of my journey. Chicago shaped me, and it will forever be my home.”

The legendary women’s basketball player announced her retirement from the WNBA last year, bringing to a close the career of one of the sport’s top players and a major figure in the game for nearly 20 years.

Parker is among the most accomplished athletes in basketball, having won NCAA championships with Tennessee in 2007 and 2008 before being picked first in the 2008 WNBA draft. She secured titles with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016 (earning Finals MVP), with her Chicago hometown team, the Sky, in 2021, and with the Aces in 2023, making history as the first player to win championships with three different teams.

She was also a two-time league MVP (2008, 2013), a 10-time All-WNBA selection, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, a Defensive Player of the Year (2020) and a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012).

Parker played 13 of her 16 WNBA seasons with the Sparks before the player out of Naperville, Illinois, signed with Chicago ahead of the 2021 season — a seismic move at the time in a league that had generally experienced little free agency movement. After two seasons with the Sky, Parker signed with the Aces.

Parker might have been one of the best scorers in league history — her five seasons averaging more than 20 points per game are tied for second all time — but her versatility as a forward with guard skills was the true trademark of her game.

She finished her WNBA career with 6,574 points (16.0 per game), 3,467 rebounds (8.5 per game), 1,634 assists (4.0 per game) and 619 blocks (1.5 per game) in 410 regular-season games — the only player in league history to rank top 10 in all of those categories.

Earlier in her career, Parker became the first WNBA player with multiple career triple-doubles and the first to dunk multiple times in the regular season.

Her fame began in high school, where she was the first girl to win the McDonald’s High School All American Dunk Contest. Her commitment to Tennessee was the first on ESPNews by a women’s player. After redshirting her freshman season because of a knee injury, Parker was a two-time Wooden Award winner and propelled the Lady Volunteers to back-to-back national titles — the program’s final championships under the late Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt.

For decades, Parker’s popularity has transcended beyond the court, from signing endorsements with Adidas and Gatorade fresh out of college, to producing a documentary on Title IX, to joining the ownership group for the NWSL’s Angel City FC, to becoming a well-respected NBA analyst for TNT and NBA TV.

ESPN contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Firebug busted with homemade Molotov cocktails after 36-hour blaze-setting streak: police

Police apprehend arson suspect in possession of homemade Molotov cocktails following 36-hour fire-setting spree

A woman from Texas has been taken into custody after allegedly igniting…
Putin's freezing campaign backfires spectacularly -- only hardening Ukrainian resolve 4 years into war

Putin’s Winter Strategy Falters as Ukrainian Resolve Strengthens in Ongoing Conflict

KYIV, Ukraine — As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters its…
Olympic skier news today: Lindsey Vonn says surgery saved her from leg amputation after a 2026 Olympics crash injury

How Lindsey Vonn’s Life-Saving Surgery Post-2026 Olympics Crash Prevented Leg Amputation: A Skier’s Triumph

VAIL, Colo. — Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American skier, recently revealed a…
Narcotics expert reveals slain drug kingpin El Mencho's deadly impact on Americans

Narcotics Specialist Unveils El Mencho’s Dangerous Legacy in the U.S.

A prominent former U.S. narcotics official has revealed that the narco-terrorist leader…
Secret tapes sink shooter's defense in Scott Spivey road rage killing

Secret Recordings Unravel Defense in Scott Spivey Road Rage Murder Case

A judge in South Carolina has determined that Charles Weldon Boyd is…
Putin puts 'nuclear triad' on fast track, Zelenskyy claims ‘World War 3’ underway

Putin Accelerates Nuclear Arsenal Development Amid Zelenskyy’s Dire World War 3 Warning

On Monday, President Vladimir Putin underscored the significance of advancing Russia’s nuclear…
Asking Eric: Aunt is disinvited from wedding ceremony, but still expected at reception

Family Dilemma: Aunt Disinvited from Wedding Ceremony, Invited to Reception Only

Dear Eric: My niece is tying the knot this autumn, but my…
Soccer matches postponed after Mexico kills Cartel leader near World Cup host city

Cartel Leader’s Death Leads to Soccer Match Delays Near World Cup Venue in Mexico

Four professional soccer games in Mexico were postponed on Sunday following a…
Nancy Guthrie's disappearance defies FBI kidnapping trends involving elderly victims

Breaking the Mold: Nancy Guthrie’s Mysterious Disappearance Challenges FBI’s Elderly Kidnapping Patterns

TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona authorities are diligently pursuing leads in the ongoing…
Hundreds gather in Truckee, California for vigil honoring Castle Peak avalanche victims

Large Crowd Gathers in Truckee to Honor Victims of Castle Peak Avalanche

A somber gathering took place in Truckee, California, on Sunday night as…
Mexico violence sees dozens of military troops, criminals dead after cartel leader 'El Mencho' killed

Violence in Mexico Escalates: Multiple Deaths Among Military and Criminals Following the Killing of Cartel Leader ‘El Mencho

In the wake of intense cartel violence sweeping across Mexico, 25 members…
'El Mencho' killed: Brookfield Jennifer Keltner stuck in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico amid cartel retaliation violence

Cartel Chaos in Puerto Vallarta: Brookfield Resident Trapped Amidst Turmoil Following ‘El Mencho’ Incident

A suburban woman in Chicago recounted a startling experience when what she…