After completing one of the greatest careers the sport has seen, Lady Vols basketball legend Candace Parker is getting her flowers. With her jersey already up in both Tennessee and the LA Sparks’ rafters, she got her jersey retired by the Chicago Sky on Monday.
“Growing up in Naperville, playing on courts around here with my brothers, and watching Chicago teams like the Bulls who became synonymous with winning, I never imagined one day my jersey would hang in the rafters of my hometown team,” Parker said when the event was first announced. “Coming home to Chicago and helping bring the city its first WNBA championship here—it was personal. I’m beyond grateful to the city, the fans, and everyone who’s been part of my journey. Chicago raised me, and this will always be home.”
No. 3 is officially in the rafters in Chicago FOREVER 💐
Candace Parker, the hometown hero. pic.twitter.com/ZSCgXycOlG
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 26, 2025
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Parker played two seasons with the Sky. Out of Naperville, Illinois, it was a return home toward the end of her career. Ultimately, she helped the franchise earn the WNBA title in the 2021 season. That year, her first in Chicago, Parker averaged 13.3 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field and 32.9% on threes. She also contributed 8.4 points, four assists and 1.2 blocks per contest.
The following season, Parker produced 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 blocks and a steal per game. After that year, she went to the Las Vegas Aces in 2023, where she won her third and final WNBA championship. Her first came in 2016 with the Sparks, in which she was named Finals MVP.
Along with her three rings, Parker is a two-time MVP, seven-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, seven-time All-WNBA First-Team member, three-time All-WNBA Second-Team member, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, assists leader, three-time rebounding leader, two-time blocks leader and two-time gold medalist at the Olympics.
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Parker joined the Lady Vols under Pat Summitt in a commitment on ESPNEWS. This was the first woman athlete to announce their verbal commitment live on television. However, despite her profound prep career, she was forced to redshirt as a true freshman due to injury.
In year two, she emerged as one of the game’s brightest stars. She won SEC Rookie of the Year as she helped the team win the SEC Championship. In a season that saw her dunk in the NCAA Tournament, she was named an All-American.
In her third year, Parker helped the Lady Vols claim the national title. She followed it up with back-to-back rings with a championship in the next season, as well. She was the Most Outstanding Player in both of the tournaments. Parker was named to the All-SEC First-Team in each season she played, won two SEC Tournament MVPs, was SEC Player of the Year and a two-time Naismith Player of the Year winner in her college career.
She was picked No. 1 overall by the Sparks after forgoing her final year of eligibility. As a rookie, she not only won Rookie of the Year but also MVP.
