"Good thing Angel Reese wasn't chosen" - WNBA fans react to Candace Parker's first pitch appearance for Chicago Cubs

Candace Parker was back in Chicago on Sunday, throwing the first pitch for the Cubs' game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Parker grew up in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago. She also played two seasons for the Sky, helping the franchise win its first WNBA championship in 2021.

In an Instagram post, the Cubs shared photos from Parker's ceremonial first pitch on Sunday. She threw a good first pitch, which was caught by pitcher Brad Keller. She received a loud ovation from her hometown crowd, showing off the Cubs logo on her jersey.

"There’s a WNBA legend in the house today 😌 #BeHereForIt," the Cubs wrote in the caption.

WNBA fans reacted to Candace Parker's first pitch, with some pointing to her career at Naperville Central. Others couldn't help bringing up Angel Reese for some reason, who's arguably one of the most divisive figures in women's basketball today.

Here are some of the best fan reactions:

"Naperville Central’s fines."

"Candace Parker is amazinggggg. I miss her playing."

"When did y’all start letting GOATs inside?

Fans comment on Candace Parker's first pitch in Cubs game. (Photo: @cubs on IG)

"Good thing Angel Reese wasn’t chosen, or it would have been mayhem w the booing!"

"Why would angel be chosen if the caption say “wnba legend”?

"Her ego is through the roof and she’s not even a good player she just wants to be as good as Clark."

Fans bring up Angel Reese. (Photo: @cubs on IG)

Angel Reese is the biggest name in women's basketball in Chicago. She's the face of the Sky, with the team off to a 2-4 start to the season.

Chicago Sky set to retire Candace Parker's jersey this season

The Chicago Sky are set to retire Parker's No. 3 jersey later this season. Parker played just two seasons for her hometown team, but her impact warranted the honor of a jersey retirement. She helped the Sky win their first WNBA championship in 2021.

According to the Sky's announcement, the jersey retirement is scheduled for Aug. 25 against the Las Vegas Aces. She will be the first player in franchise history to get her jersey hung at the Wintrust Arena. Parker played her final season with the Aces, winning her third ring with the franchise.

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Parker is also set to be honored by the LA Sparks on June 29 at Crypto.com Arena against the Sky. She played 13 seasons with the Sparks, leading them to the WNBA title in 2016. She joins Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler as the only players in team history to have their jerseys retired.

About the author

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry.

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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Edited by Juan Paolo David