Candace Parker Open to Retiring: ‘That Is How I’m Entering the Season’

Through 15 illustrious seasons in the WNBA, there isn’t a lot that Candace Parker has left to prove. She’s already been named an All-Star six times, is a nine-time All-WNBA selection, and won two titles and two MVPs. Parker also won a Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and earned a Finals MVP in 2016.

At 36-years-old, the Tennessee legend has more playing days behind her than in front. During an appearance on WNBA Weekly, she told host Kristen Ledlow that 2022 could be the last time she laces it up.

“That is how I’m entering the season,” Parker said, per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. “I mean, I don’t know, I don’t know what the future holds. I know my contract is up after this year. And there will be decisions to be made.”

sorry about the quality but uh candace parker said she’s operating under the assumption this is her last year?? pic.twitter.com/Ze2LJyzgjo

— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) May 6, 2022

After helping lead the Chicago Sky to their first-ever title last season, Parker revealed that she was “ready and really thinking about” leaving the hardwood after realizing how hard of a time she had just to work out and begin ramping up for a new WNBA season. However, Ace said her daughter convinced her to give it more go around. She also wants her son, Airr, to watch her play.

“I’m game for playing five, six more WNBA seasons if I could literally have an easy button of getting in shape. It’s the easy button; that’s the problem,” Parker said. “It’s the being in the studio, which I love, but then waking up in the morning and working out before going on air. It’s the travel. It’s the offseason.”

“So I think the first workout that I did at the end of October, I was like, ‘Yeah, I really might retire.’ That’s how close I was. I was literally looking at my exercise bike, and I was just like, ‘Yeah, that might have been a good time to retire. I don’t want to do this.’

Chicago begins their title defense on Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks.