Los Angeles Sparks legend and former Tennessee Volunteers star Candace Parker has had her No. 3 jersey retired by the WNBA team. On Sunday, June 29, during the Sparks’ home game in the Crypto.com Arena against the Chicago Sky, a special ceremony was held to commemorate the jersey retirement of Parker’s Sparks uniform.
Among those in attendance were several Tennessee Volunteers alumni, who celebrated the women’s hoops legend’s milestone event. In a video posted by NCAA March Madness on Instagram on the same night, players such as Rae Burrell, Mercedes Russell, and Rickea Jackson, who are all currently playing for the Sparks and are former Volunteers, poured their hearts out for Parker in light of her jersey retirement.
“Yeah, definitely. I would say, probably my senior year, when I injured my knee. Me and Candace had a great talk of just some advice on the next steps that I should take with my injury, and she just gave me some really good encouraging words and some good advice. So, you know, she’s just a great alumni and being part of that sisterhood with her is just so special and I can’t wait to celebrate her tonight in her retirement,” Burrell shared.
Russell revealed that Parker inspired her to pursue college ball with the Volunteers.
“I think, just for me, like I was a young girl growing up, and I watched her at Tennessee, and I think that’s what really inspired me to go there for college. Just being one of the best women’s basketball programs in the nation and obviously, the history there and what Candace did there has been amazing. So, she’s always been an inspiration to me from college all the way to the pros. So, thank you, Candace,” Russell said.
Jackson detailed how Parker helped her in her career.
“Candace came back and watched us play, came to our games, and I just will remember something that she told me that I will take forever with me. I can’t tell everybody, you know, the tricks and stuff that she gave me, but I’m grateful for her,” Jackson said.
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Parker retired in 2024, capping her WNBA career with the Las Vegas Aces. She spent two years with the Sky and 12 seasons with the Sparks. She was a three-time WNBA champion and a two-time regular-season MVP.
Candace Parker Won Two National Championships With The Tennessee Volunteers
Under the tutelage of coach Pat Summitt, Candace Parker was one of the greatest Tennessee Volunteers of all time. With the program, she won back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, for which she was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP).
Parker went on to become the first overall pick to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA Draft, and the rest is history.
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