Candace Parker retires: Social media reacts to Lady Vols legend ending WNBA career
Lady Vols legend Candace Parker announced her retirement from the WNBA on Sunday after 16 seasons.
The three-time WNBA champion and two-time national champion with Tennessee announced her decision on Instagram, writing "I promised I'd never cheat the game (and) that I'd leave it in a better place than I came into it."
Parker most recently played in 2023 for the Las Vegas Aces, the defending back-to-back WNBA champions. Last season was Parker's first with the team, and she signed a one-year contract in February to stay with Las Vegas before deciding to retire.
The two-time Wooden Award winner averaged 16 points with 8.5 rebounds and four assists per game over her career, winning two MVP awards and making seven All-Star games across stints with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces.
Here's how social media reacted to Parker's decision to retire:
Candace Parker retires: Social media reacts
Here are the best social media reactions to Candace Parker's retirement:
BREAKING:
The legendary @Candace_Parker has announced her retirement. An all-timer who left the game so much better than she found it, excelled on the court & the mic, brought a title to her hometown and forever changed women’s pro basketball in Chicago.
THANK YOU, CANDACE!… pic.twitter.com/mdImJ1TOjn— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) April 28, 2024
A career that speaks for itself. @Candace_Parker is truly 1 of 1 💐 pic.twitter.com/tDee9kzdSJ
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 28, 2024
Candace Parker’s resume can’t even fit on one page.
One of one. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/4F9Lzjr68Z— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) April 28, 2024
Thank you, @Candace_Parker 🫡 pic.twitter.com/DFALkvgao1
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) April 28, 2024
Breanna Stewart reacts to the news of Candace Parker’s retirement announcement. pic.twitter.com/VqRkBA9ozJ
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) April 28, 2024
One of the best to ever do it 🫡
🏆 3x @WNBA Champion
🥇 2x MVP
🌟 7x All-Star
🤩 1st WNBA player on an NBA 2K cover
Congrats on an amazing career, @Candace_Parker 👏 pic.twitter.com/r4AePt9aPg— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 28, 2024
Blessed to have competed against you.
Blessed to have had you in an Aces uniform.
And most of all, blessed to have witnessed your greatness.
"There's only one Candace Parker. One of one." — Becky Hammon
Thank you, Cand𝗮𝗰𝗲. pic.twitter.com/Ck0p3imLJM— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) April 28, 2024
Candace Parker at Tennessee was a PROBLEM!
One-of-one 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xaM82LyGiF— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 28, 2024
My GOAT🤩 such an incredible career and glad I was able to get the experience of playing against you!! Thank you for being the ultimate role model 🥹@Candace_Parkerpic.twitter.com/hXiNpOqAi1
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) April 28, 2024
There will never be another @Candace_Parker. Her career exemplified grit, resilience, grace and class. And as great as she was as a player, she is an even better person. I feel blessed to call her a colleague and friend, and I know there are many more championships in her future.…
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) April 28, 2024
What a career for Candace Parker 🧡 pic.twitter.com/dKNsVez1Zk
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 28, 2024
Candace Parker is 1 of 1. It’s almost impossible to explain how dominant she has been for decades, from winning national titles at Tennessee to being the first woman to dunk in the NCAA tournament game to winning WNBA titles with multiple franchises. Still the only WNBA player to… https://t.co/yEKJiljwtA
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 28, 2024
Thank you for pushing the game forward, @Candace_Parker ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zVZt0T15uP
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 28, 2024
Congrats to the 🐐 on a legendary career.
Enjoy retirement, @Candace_Parker! pic.twitter.com/AkJBriFNJD— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 28, 2024
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Social media reacts to Lady Vols' Candace Parker announcing retirement
