A Crown Raised to the Rafters Candace Parker’s Jersey Retirement in Los Angeles

 

Photo: Jessie Alchech

When the Los Angeles Sparks lifted No. 3 into the rafters, it was more than a ceremony. It was recognition. It was history pausing to honor a woman who helped define an era of Los Angeles basketball.

For Black women who grew up watching the league and watching her, this moment carried weight.

Candace Parker arrived in Los Angeles in 2008 as the No. 1 overall draft pick and immediately shifted expectations. Rookie of the Year. MVP. Champion. Leader. Her versatility reimagined what dominance could look like in women’s basketball. Skillful in the post. Fluid on the perimeter. Unapologetic in her confidence.

When the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA Championship, Candace anchored that run with composure and control. That championship banner still hangs. Now her jersey rises beside it, permanently stitched into the franchise’s story.

From a Black woman’s perspective, this retirement represents visibility and validation. It affirms that brilliance does not have to be softened to be celebrated. Candace showed up fully competitive, expressive, strategic, and multidimensional. A mother competing at the highest level. A broadcaster shaping the way the game is discussed. A businesswoman expanding her reach beyond the hardwood.

Former teammates present. Family watching with pride. Fans who have grown up alongside her career standing in applause. Young girls in Sparks jerseys witnessing permanence in real time. Seeing a Black woman honored while she can receive it matters.

For years, Black women have fueled leagues and culture while often being asked to prove their value repeatedly. Watching No. 3 ascend was watching a franchise publicly affirm that her contributions shaped its foundation.

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Candace Parker’s legacy with the Sparks is not confined to statistics. It lives in the standard she set. It lives in the players who now know they can dominate without diminishing themselves. It lives in a city that will forever look up and see her number.