Parker joins WNBA jersey retirements: Leslie, Bird, more - ESPN

Having a number retired is among the pinnacle of honors for athletes, celebrating careers and cementing legacies in arena rafters. Since the WNBA's inception in 1997, over a dozen players (and one general manager) have been awarded the tribute.

In 2025, the Los Angeles Sparks honored Candace Parker's contributions to their franchise by retiring her No. 3 jersey. The Chicago Sky will also retire her No. 3 jersey at home on August 25. The Phoenix Mercury plan to do the same for Diana Taurasi in 2026.

Here are retired numbers from WNBA history, spanning across active and defunct franchises.

Charlotte Sting

Andrea Stinson, No. 32

Career highlights: Two-time All-WNBA, three-time All-Star

Career stats: 12.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.0 APG

Connecticut Sun

Margo Dydek, No. 12

Career highlights: Two-time All-Defense, eight-time blocks champion, two-time All-Star

Career stats: 10 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.6 APG

Lindsay Whalen, No. 13

Career highlights: Hall of Fame^*, four-time WNBA champion, five-time All-WNBA, five-time All-Star

Sun stats: 11.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.9 APG

Asjha Jones, No. 15

Career highlights: One-time WNBA champion, one-time All-WNBA, two-time All-Star

Career stats: 10.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 APG

Katie Douglas, No. 23

Career highlights: One-time WNBA champion, four-time All-WNBA, five-time All-Star

Career stats: 13.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG

Nykesha Sales, No. 42

Career highlights: One-time steals champion, one-time All-WNBA, seven-time All-Star

Career stats: 14.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.5 APG

Houston Comets

Kim Perrot, No. 10

Career highlights: Two-time WNBA champion (a third posthumously awarded), first number retired in league history

Career stats: 7.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.0 APG

Cynthia Cooper, No. 14

Career highlights: Hall of Fame^*, four-time WNBA