Candace Parker, Three-Time WNBA Champion, Announces Retirement

Candace Parker [CBS Sports]

Candace Parker has announced her retirement from the WNBA after 16 seasons. The 6'4" forward, who turned 38 last month, finishes one of the most decorated careers in basketball history. In 1998, she was drafted No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks out of the University of Tennessee, where she won two National Championships. Parker went on to become a three-time WNBA champion. She was a seven-time All-Star and a two-time league MVP. In 2020, she was crowned the league's Defensive Player of the Year at age 34.

In addition to her impressive league resume, Candace also had a stellar career playing for the United States Women's National Team. In 2004, she led the USA Women's U18 team to a gold medal victory at the FIBA Americas Championship in Puerto Rico. In 2008, she led Team USA to a gold medal, beating Australia in the Olympics in Beijing, China. She returned at the 2012 Olympics in London, UK, where Team USA dominated France to take home the gold once again.

Since 2018, Parked has been an analyst for TNT Sports, serving as a commentator on NBA TV and NBA on TNT alongside NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley, and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, Ernie Johnson.

Candace Parker's Career

• 3x WNBA Champion
• 2016 Finals MVP
• 2020 Defensive Player of the Year
• 2x WNBA MVP
• 7x WNBA All-Star
• 7x All-WNBA First Team
• 2008 No. 1 Overall Draft Pick
• 2008 WNBA Rookie of the Year
• 2x Olympic Gold Medalist
• 2004 FIBA U81 Gold Medalist
• 2x NCAA Champion
• 2x NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
• 2x AP Female Player of the Year