Former two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker received honorary accolades at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The LA Sparks hung her jersey on the rafters, forever enshrining her legacy and contributions to the world of basketball.
She spent 13 seasons with the Sparks before joining the Chicago Sky as a free agent during the 2021 season. While she waits to receive her recognition from the Chicago Sky franchise, Parker remembers words of wisdom that stood by her throughout her career.
Candace Parker Remembers Michael Cooper’s Words of Wisdom
At her recent jersey retirement ceremony in LA, Candace Parker shared a piece of advice that defines her legacy and career in the City of Angels. During her speech, she looked back at her own jersey, her entire journey reflected in her eyes, as she remembered the LA greats who had helped shape her career. Among those greats was Michael Cooper.
Cooper’s words struck a chord with Parker. She mentioned the mantra in her speech. “So when I landed here… Michael Cooper said to me, ‘If you win here, you’re a champion forever.'”
This one piece of advice provided the focus and determination she needed to win in LA, and she did.
For Parker, the advice came at the right time. It was when she was drafted as the first overall pick in 2008, walking straight into the new world, looking to build her own. Michael Cooper, a former Lakers standout and then-Sparks coach, offered that advice to her in the form of encouragement and a challenge.
She embraced it wholeheartedly, immediately translating it into winning the Rookie of the Year and MVP accolades in 2008. She later led the Sparks to a championship in 2016.
These achievements have gone further as the Sparks embraced her talent, immortalizing her forever, as not just a standout player but a role model for many.
She had a storied career with the Sparks, as she was drafted by them as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. Gradually, she managed to gain five WNBA All-Star appearances, two MVP awards, the Defensive Player of the Year award, a championship and the Finals MVP award. She holds many other WNBA records.
She’s played 410 games overall in 16 seasons (13 with the LA Sparks), averaging a little over 30 minutes each game. Her career averages include 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks. She also has a split of 47.9% shooting from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 76.7% from the FT line.
After leaving the LA Sparks, she played two seasons with the Sky and one with the Las Vegas Aces. She’s won titles with both teams as well during her transition. She finally called it quits in 2024.
