Candace Parker, a two-time WNBA vice president, has pledged to play for the Chicago Sky after 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, sources told ESPN.
Parker, who was recruited at No. 1 in 2008, is an unrestricted free agent. Free agent players can start signing on Monday with their new teams.
While the Sparks tried to keep 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 relatives during the latter part of her career was too attractive to let her pass.
Parker, 34, played all 22 Sparks games in the 2020 season and finished third in the MVP voting.
The 6-foot, 4-foot forward is the only player in league history to have earned honors to MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season (2008).
He was also MVP of the WNBA in 2013 and MVP of the Finals in 2016. For his career, Parker has averaged 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Parker won two NCAA national championships while in Tennessee, 2007 and 08.