Candace Parker always said she91裸聊视频檇 know when it would be time to retire. That day came Sunday.

The three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist announced on social media that her career was over after 16 seasons.

91裸聊视频淭he competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it91裸聊视频檚 time,91裸聊视频� Parker wrote in an Instagram post. 91裸聊视频淢y HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.91裸聊视频�

Parker, 38, had told The Associated Press in November she wanted to play another season if she could get healthy from a foot injury that kept her off the court last season. But she cautioned that she didn91裸聊视频檛 want to 91裸聊视频渃heat the game,91裸聊视频� or herself, and expressed the same in announcing her retirement ahead of the Aces91裸聊视频� attempt to win a third title in a row. Parker has had 10 surgeries over her career.

91裸聊视频淚 promised I91裸聊视频檇 never cheat the game & that I91裸聊视频檇 leave it in a better place than I came into it. 91裸聊视频� I always wanted to walk off the court with no parade or tour, just privately with the ones I love,91裸聊视频� she wrote. 91裸聊视频淲hat now was to be my last game, I walked off the court with my daughter. I ended the journey just as I started it, with her.91裸聊视频�

Parker played her first 13 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, establishing her dominance early as a No. 1 pick who won Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season. Parker was the only WNBA player to accomplish that feat, averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while helping the Sparks to a 10-win improvement in 2008.

Parker earned her second MVP award in 2013 and won her first title in 2016 with the Sparks. She91裸聊视频檇 go on to win a second title with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and a third with the Las Vegas Aces last season. She91裸聊视频檚 the only player in league history to win a championship with three different teams.

91裸聊视频淭he memories Candace Parker created for a generation of women91裸聊视频檚 basketball fans will remain ingrained in our collective conscience forever, but she has given so much more to the game beyond her accolades and statistics,91裸聊视频� The Aces said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淎s a teammate and mentor, a mother and wife, a baller, broadcaster, and businesswoman she has inspired countless young people, both boys and girls, to chase and achieve their dreams.91裸聊视频�

Parker played for the late Pat Summitt91裸聊视频檚 last two national championship teams at Tennessee in 2007 and 2008. She then left with one year of eligibility remaining.

She won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 before shockingly being left off the 2016 team.

91裸聊视频淚 think obviously Candace has had an amazing career. I91裸聊视频檓 a little bit sad about it because you love going up against her, the legend that she is,91裸聊视频� Liberty star Breanna Stewart said. 91裸聊视频淲hat she has done on and off the court has been amazing for our league. Appreciate all she91裸聊视频檚 done to help me get to where I am. We91裸聊视频檒l definitely miss her this season.91裸聊视频�

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello coached Parker overseas in Russia for a few years during the winter.

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 a trailblazer. Just a wonderful human being and what she91裸聊视频檚 done for this sport,91裸聊视频� Brondello said. 91裸聊视频楬opefully it91裸聊视频檚 celebrated. I91裸聊视频檝e got a lot of respect for her. Our kids grew up together when I was coaching in Russia. It91裸聊视频檚 kind of sad. Everyone knows when it91裸聊视频檚 the right time.91裸聊视频�

Parker began working in broadcasting during her playing career. She has worked as an analyst for the NCAA Tournament with CBS Sports and for NBA TV.

She had surgery on her foot in July 2023 and told the AP it still pained her at the end of last year.

91裸聊视频淭his offseason hasn91裸聊视频檛 been fun on a foot that isn91裸聊视频檛 cooperating,91裸聊视频� she wrote in her post Sunday. 91裸聊视频淢y mission in life, like Pat Summitt always said, is to 91裸聊视频榗hase people and passions and you will never fail.91裸聊视频� Being a wife & mom still remains priority #1 & I91裸聊视频檝e learned that time flies, so I plan to enjoy my family to the fullest!91裸聊视频�

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AP Sports Writer Ryan Kryska in Hoboken, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press