Sky to retire future Hall of Famer Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey in August

Candace Parker spent just two seasons playing for her hometown Sky, but she did a ton in a short time. The organization will retire her No. 3 jersey at its game Aug. 25 against the Aces.

She would be the first player to have her number retired by the Sky.

Parker, a two-time national player of the year at Naperville Central, signed with the Sky in 2021 after playing 13 seasons with the Sparks and helped lead them to their first WNBA championship.

“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,” Parker said in a statement. “Coming home to Chicago and helping bring the city its first WNBA championship here, it was personal.”

She made the All-Stars both seasons with the Sky, and the team reached the semifinals her second season. In only 55 regular-season games with the team, she stands 20th all-time in points, 14th in rebounds and 16th in assists. Sky president Adam Fox called it an “incredible legacy.”

Parker, now 39, is a no-doubt Hall of Famer when she is eligible in 2027. In 15 seasons, including her final one with the Aces in ’23, she averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and four assists, won two MVPs and two championships and earned seven All-Star selections.

She won MVP and Rookie of the Year as the No. 1 overall pick in 2008 and finished in the top five for Defensive Player of the Year five times, including winning it in ’20. Before that, she won two state titles at Naperville Central and two national championships at Tennessee. She also won gold medals at the 2008 and ’12 Olympics.