Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — Candace Parker, one of the greatest women’s basketball players ever, recently announced her retirement.

The forward had a legendary career both in college and as a professional and is one of the most recognizable faces in the women’s game.

Parker’s collegiate career started in 2004 with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Parker was redshirted in her freshman year after suffering a knee injury. However, during the 2005-06 season, Parker would firmly establish herself as a star in the making.

On March 19, 2006, in an NCAA Tournament game against Army, Parker became the first woman to dunk in a tournament game. She would go on to become the first woman to dunk twice in an NCAA Tournament game. Parker was the 2006 SEC Rookie of the Year and helped the Lady Vols win the SEC tournament championship.

Later in 2006, Parker became the only college player to be selected to the USA squad for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil. In 2007, Parker would go on to become the fastest player in Lady Vols’ history to reach 1,000 points and would help the team win the National Championship in 2007 and 2008. Only Chamique Holdsclaw has more career points for the Lady Vols than Parker.

After a legendary career in Knoxville, Parker was the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Parker picked up right where she left off in college, with the star forward averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Parker’s best season as a pro came in 2010 when she averaged 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

Parker stayed in Los Angeles for 13 seasons and cemented herself as a franchise legend. Parker signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Sky in 2021. The forward would play two seasons for the Sky before spending her final professional season in Las Vegas with the Aces in 2023.

All-in-all, Parker earned the following honors in her WNBA career: 3-time WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, two-time WNBA MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star, seven-time All-WNBA First Team, WNBA Rookie of the Year, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, WNBA 20th Anniversary Team selection, and WNBA 25th Anniversary Team selection, among others.

Parker not only established herself as one of the best women’s basketball players ever, she also helped grow the game and fanbases of every team she played for.

With Parker no longer playing, expect to see more of the legend in the broadcast booth. Since 2018, Parker has served as an analyst and commentator for NBA on TNT broadcasts. She has also served as an analyst for the NCAA Tournament.

Caitlin Clark has dominated sports coverage over the last year, and rightfully so. In a way, Parker was the original Caitlin Clark. People who had never watched women’s basketball tuned in to watch Parker.

The Lady Vols frequently sold out home games and were one of the only profitable women’s college basketball programs in the nation. A star like Parker or Clark doesn’t come along often in sports, so you have to sit back and appreciate their impact when they do. Good luck to Candace Parker, who will undoubtedly have success in whatever endeavor she wishes to pursue.

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