12 years and six different teams, Layshia Clarendon was never the one to succumb to obstructions or back down from a challenge. “People have tried to bury me before they just keep forgetting I’m a seed. I’ll be back,” she had said after they had to leave their 4th team. And they were back to go strong for three more years. Now a leader in the WNBA’s social justice initiatives, the WNBA’s first openly transgender and nonbinary player bids her goodbye to the game.

“I am deeply at peace with this choice as my mind, body, and spirit know unequivocally that it’s time to move on,” she wrote in her retirement message on Friday, 20th September 2024. But the road wasn’t easy as suggested but a reminiscent one, for sure. Clarendon endured, got hold of positives, and fought. So here’s a brief look into the path as the icon moves on.

Three teams in 6 years for Layshia Clarendon

Following an impressive NCAA Final Four appearance with the UCLB Bears, it was in 2013 that Clarendon made the WNBA draft. The Indiana Fever picked them as the 9th overall, finding crucial help in making the playoffs every year the star guard played for them. From 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in their rookie season, Clarendon went on to improve to 6.7 and 2.7 respectively in her third and last year with the franchise.

In May 2016 then, the Fever traded Clarendon to the Atlanta Dream. Well, that would land in the guard’s favor. In their first season there, the Dream no.23, averaged their best yet, with 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for 46.6% field goal percentage. They would also record a career-high 19 points and 6 rebounds in the game against her former team.

The next year, 2017, was only better. Not only did they improve points to 10.7 and assists to 6.6, but also bagged their first All-Star and signed a multi-year contract with the team. “Keeping Layshia was very important for us this offseason… She gives us leadership, stability, and exciting play in the backcourt,” Head Coach Michael Cooper had said. But that deal did not last long.

In 2018, the guard played for 2 teams. After 18 games with the Dream, Clarendon was traded to the Connecticut Sun. Then HC, Curt Miller, revealed it was her leadership again that impressed. But sure, Claredon had more to them. They were entering the team with 1,237 points and 522 assists. And her 226 assists the previous season, placed her among the only 6 to post 200+ in a single season. They had also missed out on a triple-double against Phoenix Suns after 2 assists were removed from 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists following a review.

Expected to be a crucial reserve for the Sun in 2019, Clarendon, however, met with an ankle injury. This would oblige surgery and be on the sideline for 3 to 4 months.

Clarendon’s career took a fold

Clarendon had thought it to be a mere ankle sprain after stepping on another player’s foot during a game. But it turned out to require a whole surgery and to miss out the rest of the season, with only 9 games in bag. But the now 33-year-old made the best of the situation — lending a hand as a coach. “It’s nice having her around, having her be able to be like an extra coach for us,” Jamie Thomas had said, admitting her skills were missed on court.

But upon recovery, Clarendon, who was a free agent, signed with the New York Liberty. It was her ‘high basketball IQ, and ability to lead vocally as well as in practice,’ that was the winning point for Coach Walt Hopkins. They would go on to mentor No. 1 draft selection Sabrina Ionescu and emerged as a key team member after the rookie Ionescu suffered an ankle injury. Clarendon posted a career-high 46.5% field goal percentage with 11.5 points per game, 2.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

She was waived off the roster the next season when she fell short in the first 3 games. Clarendon revealed to have been heartbroken, but they were up for a challenge. So when Minnesota Lynx called on them, they showed up. A hardship deal initially turned to a ‘rest of the season’. She started 20 games of the 21 she played and went on to average 10.4 points, along with career best 51.7% from the field. She also led the team in assists with 5.7.

Despite all that, Clarendon would face another obstruction when the Lynx waived them off following their training camp. But they tried to make a home once again in LA Sparks as franchise CAO & GM Karen Bryant highlighted, “They are a proven floor general that will provide us depth at the point guard position.”

Clarendon recorded his second-career best point average in the first season with the Sparks. Her 11.1 was the fourth best on the team while 3.4 assists landed her in the spot. 21 more games in 2021 and Clarendon ended their career with 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.

“I’ll be forever honored to be one of 144,” Clarendon wrote as they put an end to their 12-year rollercoaster of a run.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger