Hoops Icon Parker Announces Retirement

Eric TrainerWomen’s BasketballApril 28, 2024

University of Tennessee graduate Candace Parker, a legendary player whose presence helped transform women’s basketball at the high school, college, professional and international levels of the game, announced her retirement on Sunday. She had spent the past 16 years playing in the WNBA and internationally, including two gold-medal stints with the U.S. Olympic Team.

Parker was on Rocky Top from 2004-08, and her fingerprints are all over the school’s record book. Her No. 3 jersey banner hangs from the rafters of Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena, where it was hoisted on Jan. 2, 2014. Her coach, the now late Pat Summitt, was on hand for that ceremony and looked on proudly.

The 6-foot-4 guard/forward/center from Naperville, Illinois, redshirted her first year in Knoxville before enjoying a brilliant three-season run on the court for Summitt’s program, leading the Big Orange to NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008 before embarking on an impact-filled 16-year WNBA career.

Parker shared the following on her Instagram account:

CANDACE PARKER CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

WNBA Accomplishments

2008-23 (Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas)
No. 1 pick in 2008 WNBA Draft
3-time WNBA Champion (2016-Los Angeles, 2021-Chicago, 2023-Las Vegas)
7-time WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
10-time All-WNBA Team (7 times on first team)
Only WNBA player to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in same season (2008)
2-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
WNBA Finals MVP (2016)
WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
WNBA All-Rookie Team (2008)
Two-time WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2021)
WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021)
WNBA 20th Anniversary Team (2016)
Only WNBA player to rank in top 10 in points, rebounds, assists and blocks
WNBA rebounds leader (2008, 2009, 2020)
WNBA assists leader (2015)

Olympic Accomplishments

2008 gold medalist (Beijing)
2012 gold medalist (London)

College Accomplishments

Started 109 of 110 games for the Lady Vols from 2005-08
NCAA Champion (2007, 2008)
SEC Champion (2007)
SEC Tournament Champion (2006, 2008)
AP & WBCA All-American (2006, 2007, 2008)
U.S. Basketball Writers Player of the Year (2007, 2008)
John R. Wooden Player of the Year (2007, 2008)
Naismith Player of the Year (2008)
Associated Press Player of the Year (2008)
ESPN.com National Player of the Year (2008)
Honda-Broderick Cup Female Athlete of the Year (2008)
ESPY Awards Female Athlete of the Year (2008)
ESPY Awards Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year (2008)
Honda Sports Award (2007, 2008)
State Farm Wade Trophy (2007)
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2007, 2008)
NCAA All-Final Four Team (2007, 2008)
NCAA Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2007, 2008)
NCAA All-Regional Tournament Team (2006, 2007, 2008)
SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2008)
SEC Player of the Year (2007)
All-SEC First Team (2006, 2007, 2008)
SEC Tournament MVP (2006, 2008)
SEC All-Tournament Team (2006, 2008)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2006)
SEC All-Freshman Team (2006)
CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year (2008)
CoSIDA Academic All-American (2007, 2008)
Academic All-SEC (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Graduate of the University of Tennessee (sport management, 2008)

UT Career Statistical Rankings

No. 1 in dunks (7)
No. 1 in free throws (526)
No. 2 in blocks (275)
No. 2 in blocks per game (2.50)
No. 2 in rebounds per game (8.84)
No. 3 all-time scorer (2,137 points)
No. 3 in field goals (797)
No. 5 scoring average (19.4 ppg.)
No. 8 all-time rebounder (972 rebounds)

UT Single-Season Statistical Rankings

No. 1 in free throws (201 in 2007-08)
No. 1 in free throws attempted (288 in 2007-08)
No. 1 in dunks (4 in 2006-07)
No. 1 double-doubles (21 in 2006-07)
No. 3 in points (809 in 2007-08)
No. 3 in rebounds per game (9.8 in 2006-07)
No. 3 in blocks (99 in 2006-07)
No. 3 in free throws (166 in 2006-07)
No. 4 in scoring average (21.3 in 2007-08)
No. 4 in blocks (90 in 2007-08)
No. 5 in rebounds (352 in 2006-07)
No. 5 in field goals (300 in 2007-08)
No. 5 in blocks per game (2.880 in 2006-07)
No. 6 in free throws (159 in 2005-06)
No. 6 in blocks (86 in 2005-06)
No. 6 in blocks per game (2.389 in 2005-06)
No. 7 in blocks per game (2.368 in 2007-08)
No. 10 in points (706 in 2006-07)
No. 10 in rebounds (322 in 2007-08)

UT Single-Game Statistical Rankings

No. 1 (tied) in free throws made (17 vs. Middle Tennessee, 12/13/07)
No. 1 in free throw attempts (21 vs. Middle Tennessee, 12/13/07)
No. 1 in dunks (2 vs. Army in NCAA Tourney, 3/19/06)
Tied for No. 9 in blocks (7 at La. Tech on 11/28/06 & vs. Michigan State on 11/24/05)

Other UT Superlatives

Led Tennessee in season points per game three times
Led Tennessee in season rebounds per game three times
Led Tennessee in season blocks per game three times

UT Career Recognitions

Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (2019)
One of six women’s players at Tennessee (plus her coach Pat Summitt) to have her jersey banner hanging from the rafters in Thompson-Boling Arena. (2014)
Named an SEC Women’s Legend (2020)

Basketball Courts Affiliated With Parker

In her hometown of Naperville, Illinois, a court was dedicated in her honor.
In Knoxville, 2K Foundations partnered with Candace Parker and artist Erin Miller Wray to revitalize the Cal Johnson Rec Center basketball court with a new surface that artistically pays homage to the people from the community around it.