Latest news with #CandaceParker
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Sky will retire Candace Parker's No. 3 jersey in August: ‘Chicago raised me and this will always be home'
Candace Parker will be enshrined at Wintrust Arena this summer. The Chicago Sky will retire Parker's No. 3 jersey on Aug. 25 before a game against the Las Vegas Aces. Parker, who grew up in Naperville, is the first former Sky player to have her jersey retired, an honor that reflects her stature in the history of Illinois women's basketball as much as her impact on the franchise. Despite playing only two seasons for the Sky, Parker led the team to its greatest run of success: the 2021 WNBA championship and a franchise-best 26-10 regular season in 2022. Parker averaged 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 blocks over her two seasons in Chicago and was selected to the All-Star Game in both seasons and to the All-WNBA first team in 2022. 'Candace Parker is a legend, future Hall of Famer and synonymous with Illinois basketball,' Sky President/CEO Adam Fox said in a statement. 'We're thrilled she decided to come home to Chicago to help the Sky win a championship in 2021. 'Candace has left an indelible mark on women's basketball at every level and has inspired countless players and fans through her outstanding leadership and basketball talent on and off the court. We are honored to retire her jersey and celebrate her incredible legacy as a Chicago Sky player.' Parker won two Class AA state titles (2003, '04) and three Ms. Basketball of Illinois awards (2002, '03, '04) at Naperville Central. In 2001 she threw down her first live-game dunk, believed to be the first documented dunk by a female player in the state. After winning two NCAA titles at Tennessee under coach Pat Summitt, Parker was drafted with the No. 1 pick in 2008 by the Los Angeles Sparks. She played her first 13 WNBA seasons in Los Angeles, winning a title in 2016 and two MVP awards (2008, '13). The Sparks also will retire Parker's jersey in a ceremony during a June 29 game against the Sky. Parker signed with the Sky as a free agent in 2021 and they went on a surprising championship run that year after a .500 regular season. After the 2022 season she departed in free agency for the Las Vegas Aces, with whom she won a third title in 2023. Parker re-signed with the Aces for 2024 but announced her retirement shortly before the season after struggling to recover from a foot injury. Although most of her professional career took place on the West Coast or abroad, Parker credited her ties to the Chicago area as a driving force throughout her 16-year WNBA tenure. '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 in a statement. '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.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
WNBA legend Candace Parker's legacy soars high as the Chicago Sky decides to retire her jersey and raise it to the rafters
Candace Parker. Image byCandace Parker's WNBA career arc is one for the books, as she played for and led teams like the Chicago Sky, the Los Angeles Sparks, and the Las Vegas Aces to championship titles. Honoring her legacy, on Wednesday, May 28, the Chicago Sky decided to retire her jersey and raise it to the rafters on August 25, 2025. The date has been fixed ahead of their match against the Las Vegas Aces, with whom Parker played the final match of her career. Candace Parker despite a short tenure of 2 years with the Chicago Sky led the team to its glorious championship victory in 2021 On April 28, 2024, Candace Parker, after spending the final days of her career with Las Vegas Aces and winning the championship trophy in 2023, announced her retirement via a post on Instagram. Despite the short tenure with the Chicago Sky and the Aces, Parker left a rather lasting impression. The Sky will be facing the Aces on August 25 at the Wintrust Arena, and on the same day, as an honor to the legendary player, the Sky will be raising Parker's jersey number 3 to the rafters alongside the team's 2021 championship banner. On an emotional note, Parker, via a press release statement by the team, stated, '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. 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. The announcement stirred some major throwback moments for the fans of the athlete, who have adored her legacy and performance in the court throughout her career. One of the fans wrote, 'Still remember seeing Parker dunk' Another one wrote, 'Well-deserved honor for Candace Parker, Sky legend forever' 'Congratulations @Candace_Parker well deserved' Also read: Oklahoma City Thunder are about to deliver Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a whole bank, says NBA veteran Parker's number 3 jersey of the Los Angeles Sparks will also be retired this season on June 29 during the team's match against the Sky. During her tenure with the Sparks, the player secured multiple honors like WNBA Finals MVP, WNBA MVP, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and five-time WNBA All-Star. Even though her tenure with the Sky was just for two years, her effective game play garnered accolades for the team. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sky to retire jersey of Candace Parker, who helped lead Chicago to title in 1 of her 2 seasons with the team
Candace Parker's tenure with the Chicago Sky wasn't long. But it was impactful enough that the Sky have decided to retire her No. 3 jersey. The Sky announced on Wednesday that they'll raise Parker's jersey to the rafters on August 25 during a game against the Las Vegas Aces. It will hang next to Chicago's 2021 WNBA championship banner. Advertisement Parker played two seasons for the Sky from 2021-22. An All-Star in both seasons, Parker helped lead the Sky to the franchise's only WNBA championship. In her two seasons in Chicago, Parker averaged 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 31.7% from 3-point distance. 'Candace has left an indelible mark on women's basketball at every level and has inspired countless players and fans through her outstanding leadership and basketball talent on and off the court," Sky CEO Adam Fox said, via a team statement. "We are honored to retire her jersey and celebrate her incredible legacy as a Chicago Sky player.' Candace Parker's tenure with the Chicago Sky wasn't long. But it was impactful. () (Michael Reaves via Getty Images) A graduate of Naperville Central High School in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, Parker left Illinois to play three seasons at the University of Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols to two NCAA titles. She then joined the Los Angeles Sparks as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and embarked on a career that solidified her almost certain selection to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Advertisement Parker won league MVP and Rookie of the Year in her first season in Los Angeles. When she'd wrapped her 13-season tenure with the Sparks, Parker had tallied two MVPs, five All-Star appearances, a Defensive Player of the Year award and a Finals MVP trophy after leading the Sparks to the 2016 championship. The Sparks will retire Parker's jersey on June 29. Parker left the Sparks in 2021 to play for her hometown Sky. After her two seasons in Chicago, Parker capped her career with her third WNBA championship as a starter for the Aces in 2023.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
How to watch Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury: start time, TV channel, streaming info for May 28 WNBA game
Sky and Mercury set for first 2025 matchup in Phoenix The Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury will face off Tuesday night, May 28, in their first meeting of the 2025 WNBA season. Scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT), the game will take place at PHX Arena in Phoenix. Both franchises enter the matchup with restructured rosters since their 2021 WNBA Finals showdown. Notably absent from this year's matchup are former stars Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi, both of whom have retired. In addition, Brittney Griner, who played a central role for the Mercury during their Finals run, has since joined the Atlanta Dream via free agency. The Chicago Sky are now led by emerging talents Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso , who are expected to play key roles this season. Phoenix, on the other hand, has added significant reinforcements with offseason acquisitions Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas, both bringing veteran experience to the roster. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This game marks a new chapter for both teams as they look to establish momentum early in the season. Sky vs. Mercury Game Time, Broadcast and Streaming Options Game Information: Live Events Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2025 Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arizona Broadcast Details: Local TV (Chicago): WCIU, The U Local TV (Phoenix): AZFamily 3TV / CBS 5 Streaming: WNBA League Pass (subscription required), YouTube TV (select regions) Local fans in Chicago and Phoenix can watch the game on their regional affiliates. For out-of-market viewers, streaming access is available through WNBA League Pass or YouTube TV where supported. As both the Sky and Mercury adjust to new team dynamics, the matchup offers a preview of how these retooled rosters will perform throughout the season. The game is part of a five-match WNBA slate returning after the Memorial Day break.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Makes Historic Caitlin Clark Announcement After Fever-Sky
Caitlin Clark had a sensational performance in the Indiana Fever's 2025 season opener against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, putting up a triple-double to lead a 35-point blowout victory. The 23-year-old finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Fever took the 93-58 win. Clark also shot 46.2 percent from the field and recorded two steals and four blocks in an all-around effort. Advertisement With her performance, Clark tied Candace Parker for the third-most triple-doubles in WNBA history with three. The Fever star is now just behind Sabrina Ionescu (4) and Alyssa Thomas (15). However, that's not the only history she made. According to the WNBA, it only took Clark 41 games to record three triple-doubles. Apparently, that's the fewest number of games a player has taken to reach that stat line. "Caitlin Clark made history on Opening Day," the WNBA wrote. "...She's now the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 3 career triple-doubles (41 games)." Considering Caitlin Clark's production and the improved game she showed against the Sky, it is certainly a strong possibility that she'll tie and surpass Ionescu's triple-double tally this 2025 season. Advertisement As for Thomas' record, it might take time for the WNBA All-Star to match it. However, there's no denying that Clark is on track to become the league's all-time leader in triple-doubles if she maintains her current level of play. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) holds the ball against Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins (7).Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images For now, though, Clark and the Fever can enjoy the "largest season-opening win in franchise history" before returning to action on Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream. Related: WNBA Posts Seven-Word Message After Historic Caitlin Clark Game
