Ciara had nothing but love for Candace Parker as the WNBA legend received one of the highest honors of her career.
The Grammy-winning singer and wife of NFL quarterback Russell Wilson took to Instagram to share a five-word tribute as the Los Angeles Sparks officially retired Parker’s jersey on Sunday. The moment marked a milestone for one of women’s basketball’s greatest stars. Not surprisingly, Ciara made sure to join in the celebration.
While Ciara’s husband prepares for his first season with the New York Giants, her heartfelt post served as a reminder of the couple’s strong ties to sports greatness, both on and off the field.
Russell Wilson’s Wife Ciara Congratulates Candace Parker on Jersey Retirement
Parker became just the third player in Sparks history to have her jersey go up the rafters at Crypto.com Arena, joining Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler. Ciara took to her Instagram story to share a congratulatory message to the long-time WNBA star. She shared a post from ESPN’s official account, adding:
“Congratulations @candaceparker! So awesome and inspiring!”
The ESPN post shared footage of the ceremony, including Parker’s jersey being raised to the rafters and her speech, during which she listed some of her accomplishments in the WNBA. They captioned the post:
“CP3’s LA Sparks jersey is cemented in history 💜💛”
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The Sparks drafted Parker first overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She immediately took the league by storm, becoming the first — and so far, the only — player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She took home a second MVP award in 2013, while earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. That was her final season with the Sparks.
Over her 13 seasons with the Sparks, Parker earned five of her seven All-Star nods and helped lead the franchise to its third championship in 2016. That same year, she claimed her only WNBA Finals MVP after an emotional title run that capped off a decade of excellence in Los Angeles. Nine of her 10 career All-WNBA Team selections also came while wearing purple and gold.
Beyond the accolades, Parker was known for redefining what a forward could be in the women’s game. She was a dynamic playmaker, dominant rebounder, and vocal leader who impacted both ends of the floor. She retired after the 2023 season and is expected to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when she becomes eligible in 2027.