Candace Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, announced her retirement at the age of 38. She played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks and also won titles with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and the Las Vegas Aces in the previous season. Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win championships with three different teams. Her retirement comes after a decorated career that included multiple MVP awards and significant contributions to women's basketball.
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986) nicknamed "Ace", is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and as of 2023 has spent one season with the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.A versatile player, Parker mainly plays the forward and center positions. In high school, Parker won the 2003 and 2004 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year awards, becoming just the second junior and the only woman to receive the award twice. As a college player for Tennessee, she led the team to two consecutive national championships (2007, 2008), was named the Final Four's most outstanding player in both occasions and was a two-time consensus national player of the year. As a redshirt freshman, she became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in a college game. After being selected in the WNBA Draft, Parker signed long-term endorsement deals with Adidas and Gatorade.In 2016, Parker led the Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 and won the WNBA Finals MVP Award. In 2021, she helped the Sky win their first title. Parker has won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2008, 2013), a WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award (2013), two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2008). She has been selected to six All-WNBA teams and five All-Star teams, and was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP awards in the same season. Parker became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22, 2008.Since 2018, Parker has been an analyst and commentator for Turner Sports, providing coverage for NBA games on TNT and NBA TV and for the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike has informed the Los Angeles Sparks that she intends to leave in free agency after playing her entire 12-year career with the team. Ogwumike has been a leader and changemaker for the Sparks and the WNBA, winning a title with the team in 2016 and being named the league's MVP. She has taken meetings with several teams during the free agent negotiating window and plans to meet with the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty before making a decision on her next team.
LSU star Angel Reese was chosen by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft after her standout performances, including leading LSU to a national title with a double-double average of 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Reese's season recorded the most double-doubles in NCAA history with 34 in total. She expressed excitement to play alongside Kamilla Cardoso and be coached by Teresa Weatherspoon, a WNBA Hall of Famer and the new head coach of the Sky.
The Los Angeles Sparks are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. Like some other WNBA teams, the Sparks have the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, even though the market is shared with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.Lakers owner Jerry Buss owned the Sparks as a sister team to the Los Angeles Lakers from 1997 to 2006. Since 2014, the Sparks have been owned by Sparks LA Sports, a group consisting of Mark Walter, Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and Eric Holoman.The Sparks have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in twenty of their twenty-four years in Los Angeles, more than any other team in the league. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) center and Tennessee standout Candace Parker, flashy point guard Nikki Teasley, and nearby USC alums Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson. In 2001, 2002, 2003, 2016 and 2017, the Sparks went to the WNBA Finals. They won the title in 2001, 2002, and 2016, beating Charlotte, New York, and Minnesota respectively, but fell short to Detroit in 2003 and Minnesota in 2017.Being in a major national market, the Sparks have always been a focal point of the league; they faced New York in the league's inaugural game on June 21, 1997.
Sue Bird, the 13-time WNBA All-Star and four-time champion, has joined the Seattle Storm's ownership group, Force 10 Hoops. The financial details of Bird's stake were not disclosed, but her impact on the team's success and value is significant. Bird expressed her excitement about contributing to the growth of the game and investing in women's sports as smart business. The Storm's ownership group, led by three Seattle businesswomen, purchased the team in 2008 for $10 million and recently sold minority stakes valuing the team at $151 million, the highest in WNBA history.
The 2022 WNBA season was the 26th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 6, 2022, versus the Chicago Sky.The Sparks started the season well with road wins over Chicago and Indiana, but could not hold onto that momentum as they lost the next five games in a row. They broke the streak by winning three of their next four games to finish May 5–6. They would open June with a loss and on June 7, 2022, the Sparks and head coach Derek Fisher parted ways after starting the season 5–7, and Fred Williams was named the interim head coach. Williams' tenure started with back to back losses, but the Sparks won two of their last four games in June to finish the month 2–5. The team won its first three games in July before losing their next three. Two wins were followed by three losses to finish July 5–6. The team began August in the playoff hunt, but three straight losses extended their losing streak to six total and dashed their playoff hopes. A win at Washington would be the Sparks' only win in August as they finished the season with three straight home losses. They finished the month 1–6 and the season 13–23.
Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike has signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Storm after meeting with multiple teams during free agency. Ogwumike chose the Storm because she felt they presented her with a clear role and the opportunity to contend for a championship. She will join fellow free agent acquisition Skylar Diggins-Smith and current Storm star Jewell Loyd. Ogwumike spent the first 12 seasons of her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she won a championship in 2016.
The 2024 WNBA season will be the franchise's 28th season in the Women's National Basketball Association. This will be the second season under head coach Curt Miller. The season will tip off on May 15, 2024, in Long Beach versus the Atlanta Dream.
The 2021 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 16th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and its third season under head coach James Wade. In the postseason, the Sky won their first WNBA championship.The offseason was marked by two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker joining the team. The Sky started the season with two wins but followed with a seven-game losing streak through mid-June. However, they went on a seven-game winning streak that included back-to-back wins over eventual top seed Connecticut. They entered the mid-season Olympic break with a 10–10 record. After the break, they recorded a 4–3 record in August, including back-to-back road wins in Seattle. In September, they began with a road loss and closed out the season with a four game home-stand that they split 2–2, finishing the season 16–16.The Sky entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. They hosted the Dallas Wings in the First Round, and won in dominating fashion, 81–64. They faced the Minnesota Lynx on the road in the Second Round, winning the game 89–76. Facing the first-seeded Connecticut Sun in a best-of-three semifinals series, they won the Game 1 in double overtime but lost Game 2 on the road. The series returned home to Chicago, where the Sky won both games to win the series 3–1.The Sky reached the Finals for the first time since 2014. They were only the third team to reach the finals with a record of .500 or below, and the lowest seed to do so since the new playoff format was introduced in 2016. In the WNBA Finals, the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four games to win their first WNBA championship. Their only loss came in overtime in Game 2.
The 2023 WNBA season was the 27th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the first season under head coach Curt Miller. The season tipped off on May 19, 2023, versus the Phoenix Mercury.The Sparks hired Miller on October 21, 2022. He previously served as the head for the Connecticut Sun, and led the Sun to the 2022 WNBA Finals. He also previously served as an assistant coach for the Sparks in 2015.The Sparks won their opening game of the season before dropping the next two games to Las Vegas to finish the opening month 1–2. June was an up and down month that saw the Sparks win their first two games, but then alternate wins and losses for the next five games. They won two games in a row over Dallas but then they lost their final two games of the month to Chicago. They would ultimately finish the month 6–7. July was not as good of a month for the Sparks as they lost six games in a row to start the month. They won two games against Indiana but lost their final game of the month to finish July 2–7. August began with two losses, but then the Sparks went on a six-game winning streak. August finished with three straight losses, and the Sparks finished August 6–5. The Sparks were fighting for the eighth and final playoff seed entering September and they won their opening game. They then lost their next two games, and were eliminated from playoff contention on September 8 when they did not play, but Chicago defeated Minnesota. They won their final game of the season to finish September 2–2 and one game out of the eighth playoff spot. This marked the third straight year of the Sparks not qualifying for the playoffs.
Jason Whitlock commended Angel Reese for making it cool to embrace the feminine, sexy side of being an athlete, following her selection in the WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. Reese, known for her big personality and skills on the court, expressed her desire to be more than just a basketball player and to leave a lasting impact by exploring other interests like modeling, cooking, and beauty. Whitlock also lauded Caitlin Clark's influence on the WNBA, likening her dominance in basketball to Tiger Woods' impact on golf.
Caitlin Clark, the first pick of this year's WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, attended the Pacers' NBA playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where she participated in the pregame tradition of revving up a custom-built IndyCar and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Clark will begin training camp with the Fever and make her official WNBA debut on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun.
The 2024 WNBA season is the upcoming 28th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), a professional women's basketball league based in the United States.The regular season is scheduled to run from May 14 to September 19 with each of the 12 teams playing 40 games—four games against five teams from the same conference and two teams from the other conference, and three games against the remaining four teams. Five regular season games in early June will be played against teams in the same conference to determine qualification for the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament first played in 2021; the final will be hosted by the team with the better win–loss record in qualifying games. The 2024 season includes a month-long break for the Summer Olympic Games that begins after the annual WNBA All-Star Game on July 20 in Phoenix, Arizona.The eight teams with the best regular season records, regardless of conference, qualify for the WNBA Playoffs to determine the league's champion in the 2024 WNBA Finals. Since 2022, the playoffs have used a best-of-three series in the first round, where teams are seeded based on regular season performance, and a best-of-five format for the semifinals and WNBA Finals. The Las Vegas Aces are the defending champions, having won in the 2023 WNBA Finals to retain their title in back-to-back seasons.
The 2022 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 17th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fourth season under head coach James Wade. They were the defending league champions after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA Finals.Entering the offseason, the Sky only had four players from the previous season under contract. The team re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Kahleah Copper and added Emma Meesseman via free agency. Free agent Stefanie Dolson departed the team and signed with the New York Liberty. In a sign-and-trade deal, free agent Diamond DeShields was traded to the Phoenix Mercury and the Sky added Julie Allemand.The defending champions lost the first game of the season, in overtime. However, they recovered and won their next two games. They finished the month winning three of five and with a 5–3 overall record. The Sky started June strongly, winning five of their first six, before losing to Indiana, on June 19. On June 21, the Sky broke the record for largest comeback win in WNBA history in a 104–95 win over the Las Vegas Aces after being down by 28 points. They used that momentum to win their next three games and finish the month with a 9–2 record. In July the team kept the hot streak going, winning six games in a row from July 7 to July 22. Four players were named to the All-Star Game: Candace Parker, Vandersloot, Copper, and Meesseman. They hosted the Commissioner's Cup, but lost to the Aces. The finished the month 9–2 and secured a playoff berth on July 20. After having secured the berth, their momentum slowed and they finished August with a 3–3 record. Their overall record of 26–10 was a franchise-best. They ended as the second seed in the playoffs.As the second seed in the playoffs, they hosted a First Round series against the New York Liberty. They lost Game One of the series at home 91–98. They followed that up with a dominant 38 point win at home in Game Two. They Sky had to travel to New York for Game Three, and won by eighteen points to advance to the Semifinals. There, they faced off against the third seed Connecticut Sun. As the higher seed, they again had home court advantage in the series. As in the first round, they lost the first game at home. The Sky followed that up with a home win and a road win. They lost Game Four on the road by 24-points and could not finish the series at home in Game Five, losing 63–72 to end their season.
The 2024 Chicago Sky season will be the franchise's 19th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their first season under head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.The season will tip off on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, against the Dallas Wings in Dallas.The offseason was marked by major coaching and roster changes. In October 2023, the team hired Weatherspoon as head coach, replacing interim head coach Emre Vatansever. The team also hired Jeff Pagliocca as general manager, separating this role from the head coaching position for the first time. Several starting players from previous seasons including Kahleah Copper, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, Astou Ndour-Fall, and Julie Allemand departed in trades or free agency. The Sky signed their own former first-round draft pick Diamond DeShields, and hold the 3rd and 8th picks in the 2024 WNBA draft.
Caitlin Clark, the most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history and the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, has agreed to an eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike, making it the most lucrative shoe deal in women's basketball history. Nike's commitment to Clark showcases the sportswear giant's support for the talented player who has been with the company since 2022. Despite offers from Under Armour and other brands, Clark chose to continue her association with Nike. The deal includes a signature shoe and positions her as a high-wattage star in the WNBA.
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a women's professional basketball league composed of 12 teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association (NBA), and league play started in 1997. The regular season is played from May to September, with the All Star game being played midway through the season in July (except in Olympic years) and the WNBA Finals at the end of September until the beginning of October.Five WNBA teams have direct NBA counterparts and normally play in the same arena: Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, and Phoenix Mercury. The Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Washington Mystics do not share an arena with a direct NBA counterpart, although four of the seven (the Dream, the Sky, the Wings, and the Mystics) share a market with an NBA counterpart, two (Mystics and Dream) play in NBA G League arenas, while the Storm shared an arena and market with an NBA team, the SuperSonics, at the time of its founding. The Dream, Sky, Sun, Wings, Aces, Sparks, and Storm are all independently owned.
The 2023 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 18th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fifth season under head coach James Wade. In the offseason, the team saw the departures of several key players in free agency including Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Azurá Stevens.On July 1, 2023, Wade stepped down as the head coach of the Sky to become an assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, so he was replaced by Emre Vatansever for the rest of the season. The Women’s National Basketball Association announced that the first WNBA Canada Game would feature the Minnesota Lynx and the Sky on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. It was the first-ever WNBA preseason game in Canada.The Sky started the season well, winning their first two games. However, they lost two of their last three in May to finish the month 3–2. The Sky won two of their first three games in June before going on a six-game losing streak. They defeated Los Angeles twice to finish the month and ended June with a 4–7 record. July began with a win before the team lost four straight games. Wins book-ended two losses to finish the month and the Sky finished with a 3–6 record in July. August started with two back-to-back wins in Dallas, but then the Sky lost five straight games. They finished the month winning three of their last five games to finish August with a 5–6 record. The Sky were battling with Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot entering September. The Sky lost their first game of September, but won the last three to clinch the eighth seed on September 8, after defeating Minnesota.As the eighth seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, the Sky faced off against the first seed Las Vegas Aces in the First Round. The Sky lost the first game in Las Vegas 59–87. Needing a win in the second game, the Sky lost 70–92 in the second game and were eliminated from the playoffs. Their .450 winning percentage was the worst since 2018 and this was their fifth straight year qualifying for the playoffs.
The recent WNBA draft saw Caitlin Clark being the first pick by the Indiana Fever, boasting confidence and fashion sense with Prada attire. The draft also highlighted how players like Dyaisha Fair and Angel Reese express their style and challenge stereotypes. Kate Martin, originally attending to support her teammate, was unexpectedly drafted by the Las Vegas Aces, emphasizing the excitement and opportunities present in the WNBA for talented players like her.
The Chicago Sky selected Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina as the No. 3 pick and Angel Reese from LSU as the No. 7 pick in the WNBA Draft. Both players are expected to help lead the team back to the top after a previous championship win in 2021. The Sky made strategic moves to secure these top picks, including trades to acquire draft positions. Cardoso led South Carolina to a perfect season and NCAA championship, while Reese was a standout player for LSU. Additionally, the Sky drafted Brynna Maxwell from Gonzaga with the No. 13 pick.
The 2024 WNBA Draft, the WNBA's draft for the 2024 WNBA season, following the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season, will be held on April 15, 2024, and will be the 29th draft in WNBA history. The draft will take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, and allow fans to be in attendance for the first-time since the 2016 WNBA Draft.
Caitlin Clark marked her one-year milestone with boyfriend Connor McCaffrey, posting affectionate messages on Instagram. She was chosen as the top pick in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, signing a $28 million, eight-year deal with Nike. Despite receiving lower pay compared to male athletes, her contract is the largest sponsorship deal for a female basketball player. Clark's presence has notably increased viewership for the WNBA draft, with expectations high for her impact in the league alongside fellow top pick Aliyah Boston for the Indiana Fever.
The WNBA Finals are the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the conclusion of the league's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002. Starting 2016 Verizon is the official sponsor.The series is played between the winners of the playoff semifinals. At the conclusion of the championship round, the winner of the WNBA Finals is presented the championship trophy. The WNBA Finals has been played at the conclusion of every WNBA season in history, the first being held in 1997.Since 2005, the winner of the WNBA Finals has been determined through a 2–2–1 format. The first, second, and fifth games of the series are played at the arena of the team who earned home court advantage by having the better record during the regular season.
The 2023 WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Draft, the WNBA's draft for the 2023 WNBA season and 28th draft in WNBA history, was held following the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The 2023 draft took place at Spring Studios New York on April 10, 2023. It was exclusively televised on ESPN in the United States and on TSN3/5 in Canada.
The EuroLeague MVP, or EuroLeague Full Season MVP, is the award bestowed to the player that is deemed to be the "Most Valuable Player" during the full season of the EuroLeague. The EuroLeague is the top-tier level European-wide men's professional club basketball league in Europe. The award has existed and been awarded by the EuroLeague since the 2004–05 season. It was originally awarded for play that included the league's regular season, top 16 stage, and playoffs, and currently is awarded for play that includes the regular season and playoffs, as the top 16 stage was eliminated.So far, Anthony Parker is the only player who has won the award twice. Other than Parker, all the other winners of the award have been Europeans, with Sasha Vezenkov being the most recent winner of the award for 2023.
The WNBA draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997.
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