We Speak WNBA
Candace Parker Announces Retirement
3x WNBA Champion, 2x MVP, 7x WNBA All-Star, and 2008 Rookie of the Year, Candace Parker, has announced her retirement from the WNBA after 16 seasons. Thank you, Candace!
The 6-4 forward/center signed with the Aces prior to the 2023 season, and started the first 18 games of the year leading Las Vegas to a 16-2 record. She was averaging 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game before having surgery on her left foot which sidelined her for the remainder of the season. With the 2023 WNBA crown, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft became the first player in league history to win a championship with three different teams, having also done so with Los Angeles (2016) and Chicago (2021).
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Parker led LA to 11 playoff appearances, including the 2016 WNBA Championship. She earned her second MVP award in 2013 when she averaged 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
The Tennessee grad signed as a free agent with Chicago on February 1, 2021, and led the Sky to their first-ever WNBA Championship that same year.
As a collegian, Parker led the Lady Vols to the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Championships, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player accolades both years.
Since 2018, Parker has worked as an analyst and commentator for NBA on TNT, during the WNBA offseason. In 2019, she worked as an analyst for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Game, and began serving as an analyst and commentator for NBA TV and NCAA Tournament coverage on CBS Sports.
PARKER’S CAREER HONORS | ||
WNBA Champion | 3 | 2016 (LA), 2021 (CHI), 2023 (LV) |
WNBA Most Valuable Player | 2 | 2008, 2013 |
All-WNBA First Team | 7 | 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2022 |
All-WNBA Second Team | 3 | 2009, 2015, 2018 |
WNBA All-Star | 7 | 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 |
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year | 1 | 2020 |
WNBA All-Defensive Second Team | 2 | 2009, 2012 |
WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player | 1 | 2016 |
WNBA Rookie of the Year | 1 | 2008 |
WNBA All-Star Most Valuable Player | 1 | 2013 |
Olympic Gold Medalist | 2 | 2008, 2012 |
NCAA Championship | 2 | 2007, 2008 |
Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year | 1 | 2007-08 |
John R. Wooden Award | 2 | 2006-07, 2007-08 |
AP Player of the Year | 2 | 2006-07, 2007-08 |
Final Four Most Outstanding Player | 2 | 2007, 2008 |
PARKER’S CAREER WNBA RANKINGS | ||
Points | 6,574 | 9th |
Field Goals | 2,471 | 7th |
Field Goal Attempts | 5,163 | 9th |
Free Throws | 1,290 | 13th |
Free Throw Attempts | 1,682 | 12th |
Rebounds | 3,467 | 3rd |
Rebounds Per Game | 8.5 | 8th |
Defensive Rebounds | 2,846 | 2nd |
Defensive Rebounds Per Game | 6.9 | 3rd |
Assists | 1,634 | 7th |
Steals | 521 | 16th |
Blocks | 619 | 5th |
Blocks Per Game | 1.51 | 11th |
We Speak WNBA
Caitlin Clark attendance boon: Some WNBA teams look for bigger arenas when the Fever come to town
Some are booking bigger venues for when Clark and the Indiana Fever come to town.
The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their games against the Fever to bigger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in college indicates it’s a smart move.
While at Iowa, when the No. 1 pick in the draft and the Hawkeyes went on the road this past season, they played in front of sellout crowds or set attendance records.
“She helps ticket sales, so I think it’s a really great time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite player,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She has been in college. She’s done stuff in college that nobody else has. She’s going to be a great player in the W. There’s no doubt about it.
“So the more people we can pack into the building to cheer against her, we’ll take it, although I don’t know if they’ll be cheering against her,” Hammon quipped. “I guess they might be cheering for her.”
The two-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their game on May 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.
Aces players credit Clark, but also know that their own team, which has won the past two WNBA championships, has done a great job increasing attendance at games over the past few seasons.
“We’re not rolling out any red carpet. We’re here to be a business and sell a lot of tickets. Kudos to her (Clark), but we also have done that in previous years in big games as well,” Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum said. “There are a lot of people that play basketball. People are coming to watch A’ja Wilson. People are going to watch Chelsea Gray.
“That’s not a slight on anyone, but I’m saying that’s not for her. We played in Chicago last year. We sold it out last year.”
Clark will make her preseason debut on Friday night at Dallas — a game that is already sold out.
The Mystics game against Indiana on June 7 will be played at Capital One Arena — Washington’s old home. Their normal home, the Entertainment and Sports Arena, can seat up to 4,200 fans, but the Capital One Arena has a maximum basketball capacity of more than 20,000.
Nearly half of WNBA teams play in NBA arenas, so there’s no need to move those games.
Still, a few others that don’t are feeling a push to move games to larger arenas, including the Chicago Sky. The Sky and Angel Reese play their home games in the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena. Fans started a petition to move their first home game against Indiana to the bigger United Center. There’s a concert scheduled at that arena on June 23 when the Fever come to town — so that’s not going to happen.
The Los Angeles Sparks are another team that could move their game against Indiana.
The Sparks are playing their first five home games at Long Beach because of arena conflicts from construction and the NBA and NHL playoffs. They are hosting the Fever on May 24, which is scheduled to be played at Long Beach. The team’s first five games will be played there in a 4,000-seat arena.
The Sparks have played games in the past at USC and there’s always a chance they could move the Indiana game there. The Sparks said they have nothing official to report when asked about moving the game.
The Atlanta Dream, who also play in a smaller venue that seats only 3,500, host Clark and the Fever on June 21. The team hasn’t said whether it’s exploring trying to move to a bigger arena yet.
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