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Candace Parker & SuChin Pak | 2021 MAKERS Conference Finale

Candace Parker, professional basketball player for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, is interviewed by SuChin Pak, a distinguished journalist known for her long career as the first Asian American reporter for MTV News, and as co-host of the Add to Cart podcast. She talks with Candace about what it’s like to be a woman and a mom in sports, about trusting your journey and about her experience as an NBA analyst, in an arena that is dominated by men.

Video Transcript

SUCHIN PAK: All right. So, everyone, welcome. Candace Parker, so happy to have you here joining us at MAKERS. Yay.

CANDACE PARKER: Thank you for having me.

SUCHIN PAK: Again, I mean, we have to start with the headline here. Congratulations on your second WNBA championship title. I feel like-- you'll never get tired of hearing that, by the way, as an intro question. But you know, what was it like-- take me back to that moment winning that championship title in your hometown of Chicago. That has got to be one of the most surreal moments of your career.

CANDACE PARKER: It's unbelievable, because I think at the first championship, I really was just like-- it just hit me, and I was just, like, going through the motions, and things were crazy, and the next couple of days I don't remember. And this championship, I really tried to take in the moment. Like, I really went into the middle of the floor, and, like, closed my eyes before the game, and was just like, this is what you play basketball for.

I mean, Wintrust, our arena, was sold out. You know, everybody in the city showed up. It just-- it was unbelievable to be able to come back and have a full circle moment and, you know, win a championship in front of people that first saw me play basketball.

SUCHIN PAK: I mean, you know, it just-- I get chills when you sort of take us to that moment, because, I mean, I just can't even imagine working so hard, but in that moment too, just taking that moment, which is so beautiful. Because sometimes we strive so hard to get to a goal, when we get there, we're just like, onto the next, moving on.

And it's nice to hear that you had that moment to sort of take it in, and just take that deep breath, and really enjoy. I mean, it looked like you had a fantastic time.

CANDACE PARKER: I had an amazing time, but it's just been this process. You know, I always talk about how the feeling of losing is much stronger than the feeling of winning. And I think it's like a conscious decision. Like, we remember the losses. We remember the pain.

And I don't know if I celebrated enough the last time we won, because, you know, you're celebrating the win and the victory, but you're also celebrating all those moments that you got out of bed when you didn't want to, you know, you went in and worked out, and things like that. And so I think just celebrating the journey and really acknowledging in that moment-- it's celebrating the trophy but celebrating all that it took to get there.

SUCHIN PAK: Yeah. I mean, you talk about this a lot, and it's a question I'm sure you get asked all the time-- and your answer may be the same or ever-changing. I'm curious-- how do you sort of wake up to challenges when it just feels like, oh, today is not the day. Today is the day that I want to stay in bed or just give up, you know, just for two hours-- you know, give me a little time.

But do you have a practice, or a mantra, or something that you come back to that feels very strong for you, something that helps you meet that moment?

CANDACE PARKER: It's interesting. I started journaling when I-- I tore my ACL in high school, and I started journaling. And I was encouraged by my dad and my coach at the time, just so that, like, in the moments that you feel your lowest, they can inspire you in the moments where you're kind of, like, taking things for granted and vice versa. Like, when you are celebrating a win, sometimes when you're in those moments and you don't feel like working hard, you have to remember why you're working hard.

And so I really am big on to, like, reading my own words and reading what I've written to myself, but also reading those that have done what I'm trying to do. And so I read a lot of, you know, the late great coach Pat Summitt was my coach at Tennessee. I read a lot of her words. And I actually have a tattoo on my arm that reminds me all the time, like, when things get difficult, when things get tough, left foot, right foot, breathe, repeat.

And I think that is, like, my mantra that I get through days that are tough, or even when your slate is just full-- when it's tough being a mom some days. Like, that's my, OK, left foot, right foot, breathe, repeat. And if you can do that over and over, I promise you'll get through this moment.

SUCHIN PAK: Yeah, that's great. That's great advice. Because I think a lot of times, we tend to sort of want to rush to the final part, you know? And it can often feel so overwhelming. So just to break it down to those moments, right, when it's hard, just to kind of get through that step by step. You know, you alluded to it a bit-- you know, you're a top tier athlete, you know, you're a mom, you're an advocate, you're a role model-- you have so many sort of identities that you're juggling in your life. How do you know when to say, yes, and, I think just as importantly, how do you know when to say, no?

CANDACE PARKER: That's something that I'm still mastering and getting the hang of. I don't like to say, no. You know, I feel like I can be in 50 million different places. But I think it's setting clear boundaries. And I found, especially over this last year, that it's so important to figure out ahead of time when I can do things, and during that span of time I can.

And then outside of those lines, I can't. I really, really enjoy picking my daughter up from school and dropping her off every day. That is, like, the times where I get the most conversation, the authenticity, the funny jokes. I just love it. And that's a time that I carve out.

And everybody knows my phone is on do not disturb at that time. That's my boundary. And then the same thing with Layla. She knows when it's time-- my daughter-- she knows when I'm working and these are my-- so I think it's just carving it out ahead of time so it's not as hard to say, no.

SUCHIN PAK: Yeah. You know, the theme for today is Keep Going. And for you, what is an off day? What does, like, the perfect off day for you look like to help you keep going? I know you probably haven't had one of those in a while, so you have to think back. But what is, like, a perfect day for you to recharge and really sort of take on these roles?

CANDACE PARKER: I feel so fortunate to live by a beach. I am the biggest beach person. Like, it just makes me happy. We have sand dunes, and I know this doesn't seem like an off day, but I really enjoy it. So we have sand dunes pretty close to our house.

And so I'll go out and I, like, run up the sand dunes. I'll do my workout. And then I'll take a book and I just sit at the top of the sand dunes, and just, like, look at the water, and the sun comes up, and I just feel so refreshed. So that's kind of my moment where it's like a workout, and it's refreshing, but it also just kind of allows me to recharge and really think about myself.

SUCHIN PAK: You were talking about that moment of your do not disturb moment, right-- you're picking up your daughter. In fact, you were picking up your daughter before we sat down today. I want to say, like, that is actually the thing. Her team said, listen, she's getting home from picking up her daughter. She'll be a minute.

I love that you carve out time and carve out that important time. I'm always saying that, like, in our jobs and in our workplaces, it's like we give so much that, like, I often feel like the worst of me is left for the people that are the most important at the end of the day. It's like, I have nothing left to give. So how do you sort of deal with pacing yourself and really making sure that you're present in all areas of your life?

CANDACE PARKER: Well, I am one of those that I need outside influences for discipline. So on my phone, I do have, like, the screen time app to make sure that I'm not on my phone too much. I'm a big believer in, like, putting my phone somewhere else at dinner.

So, like, if it rings or something like that, I'm not just on my phone. So I think it's, like, putting rules in place, because we've had rules our entire life to, like, show us how to do things. And then as an adult, I feel like we kind of revert back to all the things that we did as kids.

And so I just try to, like, put those measures in place. And sometimes, like, my daughter parents me at times. Like, mom, your phone, it's got to be over there, or you're on your phone.

SUCHIN PAK: Love that.

CANDACE PARKER: Yeah. And I like it. You know, I think it's good to be held accountable by somebody, even if they're 12.

SUCHIN PAK: So before I let you go, I want to ask, looking back at this year, what's, like, the moment that really kind of fills you with joy? And then looking ahead what are you most looking forward to?

CANDACE PARKER: Well, they say to never meet your heroes. And I am the biggest fan of rapper Jay-Z just because of his ability to push something greater than himself forward. Like, I feel like he moved the entire hip hop community forward just as a businessman with, you know, just everything. And I always said that was a goal of mine was to meet Jay-Z and to sit down and have a business meeting.

I didn't want to run up and take a picture and whatever. And they say, never meet your idols, but he just superseded everything that I could ever imagine him to be. We had a conversation for about an hour, and it was one of those surreal moments, because I think Candace the basketball player was blown away, but Candace, like, the businesswoman-- like, that's what I want to tap into-- was just, like, wide-eyed and just couldn't believe it.

And so I would say that was kind of one of the surreal moments when I was sitting with one of my idols and he actually, like, lived up to everything I thought he was, and much more. And then just this year has been just so amazing. I really believe in things being full circle, and just relationships, and people, and going back home, and having my family be able to see me play.

And I think most often, it's my daughter being able to see me fight through adversity-- being able to fight through things that didn't necessarily go my way and, you know, still find a way to make things positive. So I think that's been my lesson this year. And I really feel really fortunate to be able to sit here today and be talking to you.

SUCHIN PAK: Well, thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it. And I just know you hear it all the time, but what you're doing and inspiring a generation of women, and girls, and young people, it's amazing, and it's incredible. And congratulations on everything you've achieved.

CANDACE PARKER: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.