Chicago Sky retire Candace Parker’s jersey as Aces extend winning streak

This is the second time Parker’s jersey has been retired this year—the first to do it was the Los Angeles Sparks in June. Parker, who played 13 seasons with the Sparks, led them to their third WNBA Championship in 2016. 

Coming home to Chicago

Parker played two seasons with the Sky after being signed in free agency in 2021. Following a break-even season in 2021, the Sky won their first (and so far, only) WNBA title in a 3–1 series victory over the Phoenix Mercury. 

“Naperville raised me. Chicago sports set the bar to win,” Parker said in her halftime speech.

“My childhood, I grew up in the 90s, as a lot of people in the Chicagoland did, and it was like eat Portillo’s, eat Giordano’s … and go to Grant Park in June because the Bulls were going to win the championship. Like those three things were for sure,” Parker told media before the game.

In high school, she won two Illinois State Championships with Naperville Central High School. In college, she won two NCAA National Championships at the University of Tennessee before taking her game to the league as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft.

“I’m impressed but not surprised,” Naperville Central High School coach Andy Nussbaum said in a video message (he was also in attendance at the game). “On a personal level, thank you for letting me continue to be involved in your life.”

Parker is the only player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year, and also the only player to win three WNBA championships with three different teams (Sparks, Sky and Aces). She won MVP twice over the course of her career and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in her 2021 season with the Sky. 

“When I think of Candace, I only think of one word: champion,” said Sky owner Michael Alter, who received very little applause as he made his appearance. When describing the process of picking Parker up in free agency ahead of the 2021 season, he recalled that he had asked her to “Come home and make history. And that’s exactly what she did.”

Fittingly, the Sky chose to retire her jersey at a matchup against the Los Vegas Aces, where Parker played in 2023, her final season in the WNBA. Sky head coach Tyler Marsh was an assistant under current Aces head coach Becky Hammon during Parker’s season in Las Vegas. 

Tributes from across Chicago

“I wish I could be there to honor you,” Chicago Bulls legend Ron Harper said in a video message to Parker. Derrick Rose, who will soon have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls, also sent in a message thanking Parker for the inspiration she gave him. The crowd roared when his face popped up on the JumboTron.

“Thanks for the inspiration when I was younger,” he said.

Speed painter Jessica Haas worked on a portrait of Parker as people gave speeches to honor the seven-time All-Star.

Kahleah Copper, who played alongside Parker for the Sky in 2021, and now plays for the Phoenix Mercury, also made an appearance at the game.

“I wouldn’t miss this day for anything, Candace,” she said. After a heartfelt speech, Copper ran to the exit to catch a flight, as the Mercury play the Sparks tomorrow.

On the court, the Sky dropped a close contest to the Aces, 79–74. Ariel Atkins scored a season-high 30 points for the Sky and Angel Reese led in rebounds with 17.

Former teammates, including Azurá Stevens, Lexie Brown, Stefanie Dolson, Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, sent in video messages as well. “I got a front row seat to your greatness,” Vandersloot said in her video.

In a pregame media availability, Parker summed up just how much it meant to her to bring a championship back to Illinois.

“I think winning in Chicago — there’s nothing like it.”