Jun 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Former Los Angeles Sparks Candace Parker acknowledges the crowd during a jersey retirement ceremony at halftime at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Candace Parker Reveals Interest in Exploring Future WNBA Ownership

Originally posted on Los Angeles Sparks on SI
By Ben Geffner | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 8:05 PM ET

Prior to Los Angeles Sparks' legend Candace Parker's No. 3 jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of Sunday's home game against the Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena, the three-time WNBA champion spoke on future league ownership possibilities.

“I’m super grateful for playing the game for as long as I was able to play, but I know the game prepared me for this phase of life, so for sure, I want to be in an ownership position ... 100 percent," Parker said. "But I also want to continue to impact the game on this side.

"So doing that alongside Adidas has been super special for me as the President of Women’s Basketball," she continued.

Candace Parker on going into WNBA ownership:

“I know the game prepared me for this phase of life, so for sure, I want to be in an ownership position … 100 percent.”

pic.twitter.com/a5Cdqk8sQB
— LA Sports Report (@LA_SportsReport) June 30, 2025

Parker's recent interest came less than a day after the WNBA formally announced the expansion to 18 teams by 2030 — adding three new franchises in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit, per a league announcement on Monday.

Lisa Leslie on Candace Parker:

“She changed the game … I was elated to have her as a teammate … I knew when I handed the keys over the Candace Parker, the Sparks were in good hands.”

Added: “Nobody else can do what [she’s] done for the LA Sparks.” pic.twitter.com/gSNMAMdny0
— LA Sports Report (@LA_SportsReport) June 29, 2025

Her pregame comments on Sunday were preceded by more initial interest from Parker — originally expressed in an appearance at Sport Beach at Cannes Lions earlier in June, according to the New York Post.

“I’m doing everything in my power to try to be involved or have an ownership piece in a WNBA team right now," Parker said. “I think that the growth you see on television, since we’re talking numbers, 95 percent of the sports shown on television is male. Do you think that number is going to go up… or down?

"I would like to bet there’s probably going to be more women’s sports shown on television.. and just that number alone is advertisement dollars, its growth, [and] it’s time," she added.

Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey officially in the LA rafters. pic.twitter.com/FLwpJs76Zn
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 29, 2025

Parker became just the third player in Sparks' franchise history to have a jersey retired in the Crypto.com Arena rafters — joining Lisa Leslie (No. 9) and Penny Toler (No. 11).

She still remains the sole player in league history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same season.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Sparks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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