Los Angeles Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon, a leader in the WNBA’s social initiatives, the league’s first openly transgender and nonbinary player and a 2017 All-Star Player of the Year, announced her retirement on Instagram on Friday.

Clarendon, 33, has not played for the Sparks since their game against the New York Liberty on Aug. 15. During her 12-year WNBA career, she averaged 7.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game.

“It just felt right,” Clarendon told ESPN. “I’ve experienced a lot of healing in my life over the last five years. It was just the culmination of my mind, body and soul telling me it was time to move on. I just had a deep intuitive knowing that now was the right time, and I had a really open heart and a willingness to let go.”

“Layshia has made a tremendous impact on and off the court during her outstanding basketball career,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said in a statement. “Lay was a true professional who showed up every day with a desire to help our teams compete and improve. … Off the court, Lay is a trailblazer and has influenced so many with her courage to be authentic and uncompromising while consistently fighting for the marginalized.”

Clarendon, who uses the pronouns she/her, he/him and they/them, was drafted ninth overall by the Indiana Fever in 2013. She also played for the Atlanta Dream, with whom she was named a WNBA All-Star in 2017, the Connecticut Sun, the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx before finishing her career with the Sparks. She recorded a triple-double in the Sparks’ season opener against the Dream in May.

“I’m very proud of my 2017 All-Star,” Clarendon said. “I wanted to be an All-Star in this league and I proved that to myself. I’m also really proud of the relationships I’ve built with people and the integrity I’ve shown in the sport.”

During the 2020 bubble season, Clarendon and the Liberty wore “Trans Lives Matter” t-shirts, but Clarendon had not made their gender identity public. That changed after the season, when Clarendon announced that they were nonbinary and transgender.

A tireless organizer and advocate for equity, Clarendon was elected first vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association in 2016. She helped negotiate the WNBA’s historic 2020 collective bargaining agreement, which included salary increases, improved travel opportunities and additional support for players who are also parents.

They advocated for LGBTQIA+ inclusive policies across the league as well as racial justice. It was Clarendon’s idea to dedicate the 2020 season to the “Say Her Name” campaign. When the idea of ​​bringing “Black Lives Matter” to the field for the 2020 season came up, Clarendon drew up the rudimentary plans in Microsoft Paint.

“How the W looks and feels right now is largely a testament to the people who have put in the work,” said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who coached Clarendon at Cal. “And there’s no one more important in that area than Layshia.”

Clarendon led the Golden Bears to their first women’s basketball Final Four in 2013. In his senior year, he averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

Clarendon said he felt special every time he walked out of the tunnel and saw signs from fans who were members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The same goes for fans who bought his jersey because of something he stood for.

“The fans have been a bright spot for me too,” Clarendon said. “A lot of this healing work is mutual. Even though I was the one leaning out the window, I felt really caught up and held by the queer fan community at the W. That was really beautiful, so thank you.”