Layshia Clarendon, the WNBA’s first openly non-binary and transgender player, has announced her retirement at the age of 33.
Clarendon is bidding farewell to its women’s basketball team 12 years after being selected ninth overall by the Indiana Fever. They played there for two years before joining the Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and LA Sparks.
They ended her career as a Sparks player, even though she has not played for the team since August 15.
In an emotional post on Instagram, the veteran guard paid tribute to his wife Jessica Dolan and many others, and announced they are retiring after more than a decade in the WNBA.
“The lesson I’ve learned this past year is that all things must come to an end,” Clarendon, who uses the pronouns she/her, he/him and they/them, wrote alongside a series of photos from their time in the league.
Layshia Clarendon — the WNBA’s first-ever openly non-binary and transgender player — has announced her retirement at age 33
“It’s time for my basketball career to end. I’m at peace with it because my mind, body and soul know unequivocally that it’s time to move on.
“The saying goes that athletes have 2 deaths. Our careers and our very last breaths. I can tell you that I have been deeply grieving this loss. I have loved this game with all my being.
“Thanks to my wife. Without you I wouldn’t have lasted this long. Thanks to all the great teammates who have become friends over the years. The sisterhood is what I loved about playing and what I will miss. The silliest things in the everyday moments.
“The way you helped me fill in my mustache, the way you made jokes about my gender, the ways I made jokes about my gender. The way gender is so damn fluid in our league. The way we fight to make the world a better place and it always started with us. The 144.”
Clarendon concluded the statement by saying, “While the sadness is heavy, the joy remains. I am so looking forward to being celebrated and loved. I know I touched a lot of people (or so I’ve heard, haha), if you would like, share a memory, an interaction we had, or something you liked about the way I played.
In an emotional post on Instagram, the veteran LA Sparks guard paid tribute to his wife Jessica Dolan (left) and announced their retirement
Clarendon averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game during their WNBA career
‘I respectfully ask that you not say “you’re going to be amazing at whatever you choose.” I want to stay in the sweetness of THIS moment. Where my heart is broken and tears are streaming down my face AND I can also smile, look up and say damn, I really did all that?’
Clarendon averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game during their WNBA career and was named an All-Star in 2017.
During their time at Liberty, the former California college star wore a “Trans Lives Matter” shirt before publicly sharing their gender identity, which changed after they revealed they were non-binary and transgender the following season.
Clarendon was elected first vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association in 2016. At the same time, she negotiated the league’s historic 2020 collective bargaining agreement, which included salary increases, improved accommodations and additional support for players with children.
Throughout their careers, they have worked tirelessly to advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusive policies in the league and for racial justice.
