Candace Parker, a true pioneer and one of the most decorated basketball players in the sport's history, is set to have her No. 3 jersey retired by the Los Angeles Sparks. The ceremony will take place at Crypto.com Arena during halftime of the Sparks' game against the Sky on Sunday afternoon, fulfilling an announcement made in March. This event celebrates Parker's illustrious 13 seasons with the purple and gold, a tenure that solidified her legacy as a Sparks legend and a transformative figure in women's basketball.

Parker was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Sparks in 2008. During her time in Los Angeles, she amassed an impressive array of accolades, including the Rookie of the Year award in 2008, two league MVP awards in 2008 and 2013, and the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020. Notably, Parker became the first player ever to win both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season. She was also instrumental in leading the Sparks to their third WNBA championship victory in 2016. Averaging nearly 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists during her Sparks career, Parker's impact was undeniable.

Known for her versatile playing style, the seven-time All-Star excelled in multiple facets of the game. Despite her 6-foot-4 frame, Parker possessed exceptional ball-handling skills, effective shooting, and strong post-play. Her defensive prowess was particularly highlighted by leading the league in rebounding three times and in blocks twice, in addition to earning a spot on the All-Defensive second team twice in her career. Her rookie campaign is widely regarded as her best season, where she averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks, while shooting 52.3% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range.

Before her WNBA career, Parker had an equally impressive collegiate journey at Tennessee, where she led the Lady Volunteers to two consecutive national titles and was named the Most Outstanding Player on both occasions. She also earned national player of the year honors consecutively in 2007 and 2008, and made history in 2006 as the first female player to dunk in an NCAA tournament game. Her unique skill set and comprehensive game continued into the professional ranks, where she stands as the only WNBA player in history to be in the top 10 all-time in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks.

Current Sparks star guard Kelsey Plum, who briefly played alongside Parker on the Las Vegas Aces in 2023, reflected on Parker's profound influence. Plum lauded Parker's ability to 'transform the game' beyond basketball itself, emphasizing the respect she commands and how she has consistently 'moved and raised the bar' for women in the sport. Plum described Parker as an 'awesome' teammate who 'brought a level of intensity, wisdom, competitiveness that really just permeated the whole locker room.' Even when limited by injuries during their time together on the Aces' 2023 championship run, Parker's presence on the bench provided a significant boost in confidence. Plum specifically highlighted Parker's passing ability as a distinctive trait that set her apart from other players, noting her 'size, her skill [and] athleticism' combined with an exceptional ability to pass the ball. Candace Parker's unprecedented impact, both on and off the court, truly made her an anomaly in women's basketball.