Los Angeles Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon, who was the WNBA’s first openly transgender and nonbinary player and an All-Star in 2017, announced her retirement on Friday after 12 seasons.
Clarendon had not played since August 15, missing the last month of the season due to what the team described as mental health reasons. The Sparks ended the season with an 8-32 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
“It’s bittersweet to reach this time in my life and career. Coming home to LA and spending my final seasons with the Sparks was deeply meaningful,” said Clarendon, who was born in nearby San Bernardino and played in college at California.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever make it back to California to play. And I did, which meant the world to me and my family.”
The 33-year-old guard joined the Sparks in February 2023 after previously playing for Indiana, Atlanta, Connecticut, New York, and Minnesota. During her time in Los Angeles, Clarendon averaged eight points, 2.5 rebounds, and three assists while starting 36 of 45 games.
In May, Clarendon became the second-oldest player to achieve a triple-double, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Atlanta Dream.
Last season, she scored a career-high 30 points against the New York Liberty and reached the milestone of 2,000 career points.
Clarendon publicly came out as nonbinary and transgender after the 2020 season. She worked for social and racial justice and supported LGBTQIA+ policies throughout the league.
Clarendon was elected first vice president of the Players Association in 2016 and played a key role in negotiating the WNBA’s 2020 collective bargaining agreement, which included better salaries, improved travel arrangements, and more support for players with children.
“Lay was a true professional, showing up each day with a desire to help our team compete and improve,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “Simply stated, Lay is a winner. Off the court, Lay is a trailblazer and impacted so many with their bravery to be authentic and unapologetic while consistently fighting for the marginalized.”
