She’s collected every single award that’s up for grabs across the basketball landscape. She’s inspired countless women and young girls to be their authentic selves along the way. She’s an author, an Olympian and now, she’s ready to unveil her signature sneaker.
A’ja Wilson has been on an insane ride for the past few years.
In May 2024, she announced her inaugural Nike signature collection had been in the works for over a year. The ensuing “Of Course I Have a Shoe Dot Com” campaign completely took over the Aces’ preseason contest against the Puerto Rican National Team from the tunnel to the Jumbotron.
A little over a month later, Nike revealed her signature logo. And in December, she announced a six-year extension with the Beaverton brand featuring photos of her on a private jet decked out with the same insignia from the plane’s hull to blankets and tumblers that awaited inside. That brings us to February 2025, the reveal of A’ja’s signature sneaker, the Nike A’One.
While she was winning a WNBA Championship, the regular season MVP, the Defensive Player of the Year award and an Olympic Gold medal, A’ja was simultaneously building out the foundation of her signature line, a foundation centered around her family.
When Nike Basketball senior footwear designer Ben Nethongkome and team met with A’ja for the first time, they learned of her family’s deep connection with pearls.
At around 10 or 11 years old, A’ja’s grandmother gifted her a pearl necklace. As she navigated the highs and lows of finding herself, her voice and who she wanted to be, the pearls were a persistent symbol of strength.
“She was, like, You know, these pearls are going to make you beautiful, it don’t matter what you look like, no matter how you’re growing into your height and leveling yourself,” A’ja says.
Jared ebanks 