Candace Parker, twice a WNBA MVP, has pledged to play for the Chicago Sky after 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, sources told ESPN.
Parker, who was called up to the top spot in 2008, is an unrestricted free agent. Free-agent players can start signing with their new teams on Monday.
Although Sparks tried to retain the current Defensive Player of the Year, who helped them win the WNBA title in 2016, the opportunity to return to their hometown of Chicago and play in front of friends and family in the latter part of their career it was very attractive for her to pass up.
Parker, 34, played in all 22 Sparks games in the 2020 season and finished third in the MVP vote.
The 1.80m striker is the only player in league history to win the honors of MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season (2008).
She was also the MVP of the WNBA in 2013 and the MVP of the finals in 2016. For her career, Parker averaged 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Parker won two national NCAA championships while in Tennessee in 2007 and ’08.