Candace Parker's No. 3 Sky Jersey to Be Retired After Legendary WNBA Career

Candace Parker will have her jersey retired for a second time during the 2025 WNBA season.

The Chicago Sky announced they'll hang Parker's No. 3 in the Wintrust Arena rafters on Aug. 25 when they host the Las Vegas Aces.

That's a little less than two months after the Los Angeles Sparks will bestow the same honor on the two-time WNBA MVP.

"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," she said.

"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."

Parker only spent two seasons with the Sky but made them count.

The franchise had long struggled to retain its best homegrown talent, and it wasn't much of a free-agent draw despite the size of the Chicago market.

Maybe they were being a bit hyperbolic, but it was easy to see why the Sky called signing Parker "one of the biggest free-agency moves in the history of the WNBA" when it happened.

Beyond the emotional pull of playing in her hometown, Parker made it clear she was aiming for her third title and thought Chicago could help get her there.

That's exactly what happened when a 16-16 Sky squad flipped a switch in the postseason. They beat the Dallas Wings and Minnesota Lynx in the first two single-elimination rounds before knocking off the Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury in best-of-five series.

Parker had 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to secure the title.

It looked like Chicago might go back-to-back in 2022 when it tied for the best record in the regular season. But the repeat bid ended in a semifinals defeat to the Connecticut Sun.

Parker left during the 2023 offseason to sign with the Las Vegas Aces, and the Sky's championship window swiftly closed as the key stars from their 2021 triumph departed over time.

Still, that Finals win was a transformative moment for the organization as it began to widen its foothold in the Chicago sports landscape. The trend has continued, with the arrival of Angel Reese helping fuel another surge in popularity.

Most fans will associate Parker with her 13-year run in Los Angeles. For those in the Windy City, she'll forever be a Sky legend.