photo credit: Complex
The event included a live performance by Wale, with sounds by Elevator Music, DJ Millie, Hillery Banks, and DJ Maiya Papaya
Fans were also treated to a sensory Snickers ice cream sampling experience from Mars
WHAT: Complex Market landed in Chicago for the first time, taking over Cinecity Studios with celeb attendees including A’ja Wilson, Cynthia Cooper, Juju Watkins, Bam Adebayo and a live performance by Wale, with sounds by Elevator Music, DJ Millie, Hillery Banks, and DJ Maiya Papaya. The event brought together vintage sport and streetwear vendors, live programming, and community space for fans, collectors, and tastemakers to gather around the game.
CHASE CASHBACK COURTS
Chase Freedom brought their signature energy to the Chase Cashback Courts, celebrating 30 years of women’s basketball with special appearances by Chase Freedom partner A’ja Wilson (wearing a matching forest green jacket and shorts set with fresh all-white Air Force 1s), Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Juju Watkins.
The event kicked off with a podcast tapings of Complex’s original Please Explain by Aria Hughes with Wilson and Cooper.
BEST MOMENTS FROM PLEASE EXPLAIN WITH ARIA HUGHES
- Cynthia on LeBron heading to Philly: She wasn’t surprised — she knew he wasn’t going to go backwards to Miami but was going to end up on the East Coast.
- A’ja on the Knicks’ championship win: Winning after a long wait means understanding exactly what it took to get there, and a city win becomes something everyone shares.
- A’ja on personal style: Image is a chance to show off personalities beyond the court, and no one can put her in a box — she can be comfy one day, glammed up the next.
- Cynthia on the league’s fashion culture: What players wear off the court is its own language, right alongside what they show on it. She joked she needs to work with A’ja’s stylist [Casey Billingsley] because she wants to look like A’ja too.
- Cynthia, now an analyst, on A’ja’s game: it never stays the same — she’s always evolving, still has that signature turnaround jumper, and never settles, which is how you win four MVPs in a row
- A’ja on Cynthia: she brings out her competitive edge and has her back — knowing someone’s in your corner like that means everything
- A’ja’s message to young players: keep doing the work and being the best version of yourself, and you’ll end up exactly where you’re meant to be
- A’ja on handling a target on your back after winning: it means locking in even harder on defense
- A’ja’s advice to young hoopers: don’t be afraid to fail or lose — basketball is hard work, and the wins come from grinding it out behind the scenes
Mars brought its new Snickers Ice Cream Minis lineup to Complex Market for a dedicated sampling activation where fans got a first taste of five flavors — Original, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, Almond, and M&M’s Minis — while playing Jenga, cornhole, and taking advantage of the interactive photo booth.
ABOUT COMPLEX
Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale.
Whether through video, long-form text, or social media, Complex tells stories of streetwear and style, music, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture.
A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce. Complex’s strategic partnership with Universal Music Group delivers unparalleled experiences and exclusive collaborations to passionate music fans.
