The Latest Breaking News from Kahleah Copper

CHICAGO — Candace Parker chose to leave the Chicago Sky for the same reason she joined the team in 2021 — to go home.

The two-time WNBA champion took meetings with the Sparks, Sky and Aces before making her decision.

In his first move of free agency, Wade extended a qualifying offer to Rebekah Gardner. Next up comes some of the biggest hurdles — re-signing the Sky’s unrestricted free agents.

She currently leads Spar CityLift Girona in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game to go with 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals. In 11 games, she’s shooting 45% from three-point range and 58% from the field overall.

Under the league’s collective-bargaining agreement, which was ratified ahead of the 2020 season and runs through the 2027 season, the league has over $1 million to spend annually on marketing agreements. The maximum a player can earn on a player marketing agreement is $250,000.

According to the recently released 40-game schedule, the 19th All-Star Game will be played July 15. Details are being finalized before the league makes an official announcement.

‘‘I don’t care if people come back and sign a one-year [deal],’’ Copper said. ‘‘But there’s no way we can just be done [playing together].’’

For the first time in WNBA history, a record 40 regular-season games will be played.

As league expansion looms, the next era of superstars is emerging. When Candace Parker does retire, it will be players such as Kahleah Copper who are tasked with taking the league to new heights.