The city of Chicago has made it official: Sept. 16 is a celebration of one of the all-time greats — the legendary CP3.
We do well never to forget where we’re from. And on Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Sept. 16 would be Candace Parker Today, a date dedicated to honoring the living basketball legend and commemorate her eye-popping accomplishments.
The mayor signed a proclamation making things official.
Parker, 35, grew to become one of the best high school basketball players in the Chicago area, excelling at nearby Naperville Central High School. She continued her success at the University of Tennessee, where she was a consensus NCAA Player of the Year in 2006-07 and a unanimous PoY the next season.
Then came the WNBA MVP trophies, countless All-Star and All-WNBA nods, a pair of gold medals, and a league title with a Finals MVP award to match.
For this all-new holiday in the ChiTown canon, let’s take stock of Parker’s particular power on and off the court.
And given all that her resume boasts, it might be more accurate to say that every day is Candace Parker Day.
Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.
The Resume That Speaks for itself
- WNBA championships: 1 (2016)
- WNBA MVPs: 2 (2008, 2013)
- WNBA All-Star teams: 6 (2011, ’13, ’14, ’17, ’18, ’21)
- All-WNBA teams: 6 First (2008, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’17, ’20), 3 Second (2009, ’15, ’18)
- Olympic gold medals: 2 (2008, ’12)
- Named one of the WNBA’s 25 greatest players
Parker is one of the most accomplished women ever to pick up a basketball. She’s been a household name for no less than 15 years, immediately winning WNBA MVP honors after turning pro and maintaining a high level of play as the league has grown.
For a dozen years, she was the fulcrum of a strong Los Angeles Sparks team, but this past offseason, she brought things full circle. Parker decided to sign with her hometown Chicago Sky, bringing all that star power back home to provide a jolt to a team that was already playoff-caliber.
She answered the call by recording her first All-Star appearance in three years.
A Legendary Brand Off the Court
- Instagram followers: 811K
- Twitter follwers: 362K
- Website: CandaceParker.com
- WNBA annual salary: $190,000
- Estimated net worth: $5 million
- Reported Endorsement Earnings: $3 million/year
- Key endorsement deals: Adidas, Kellogg Co., Beats By Dre, NBA 2K, Gatorade, JBL Audio
Parker is a milestone-maker for more reasons than simply basketball. She is the first woman to grace the cover of an NBA 2K game, and is also part of the ownership group, with her daughter Lailaa, of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles-based club slated to make its debut in the National Women’s Soccer League in 2022.
The announcement of Candace Parker Day also comes on the heels of Adidas‘ announcement of the Candace Parker Collection, as well as the latest iteration of the Three Stripes’ “Impossible is Nothing” ad campaign.
Launching Sept. 23, the collection will include three colorways of her Exhibit ACE player exclusive shoe, ACE logo apparel, and an UltraBoost running shoe. Parker joins the likes of Beyonce, Paul Pogba, and Patrick Mahomes as athletes and entertainers with signature Adidas collections. This is a part of the Adidas initiative to both bolster its WNBA roster, and Parker is a great athlete to choose
Her engaging personality and extensive knowledge of the game have made her a media staple, too. She’s a mainstay on Turner Sports’ NBA on TNT studio crew, often sharing the spotlight with fellow Chicago icon Dwyane Wade and cultivating a firm but funny presence.
It’s one of many reasons why she’s able to earn over 15 times her current WNBA salary in sponsorships and endorsements.
But no matter how far away her journey has taken her — she’s also played pro ball in Russia, China, and Turkey — she’s never stopped repping the Windy City.
You’ll frequently find her wearing a D-Wade, Kevin Garnett, or Benji Wilson jersey to show off her ChiTown pride. But now, Mayor Lightfoot has ensured that the Chicago Sky No. 3 is the hottest jersey in town.
Because it’s Candace Parker Day. And if you weren’t wise to the accomplishments of this inimitable trailblazer of the game, this is the perfect moment to get all caught up.
