A’ja Wilson’s Star Continues to Rise With Release of Nike Shoe

Nike unveiled A’ja Wilson’s signature A’One shoe Tuesday, another emblem of the continued acceleration of the business of women’s basketball.

Nine WNBA players got their own signature shoes in the earlier days of the league: Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Cynthia Cooper, Nikki McCray, Chamique Holdsclaw, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker. Then, a decade went by where no women’s player got a custom deal.

Deals have picked back up in recent years alongside growing popularity in the WNBA, with four players announcing shoe contracts ahead of Wilson since 2021. But for a league where most of the athletes are Black, all four of those players—Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, Sabrina Ionescu, and Caitlin Clark—are white. Wilson—soon to be joined by JuJu Watkins with Nike and Satou Sabally with Adidas—is the first Black women’s basketball player to get her own shoe since Parker in 2010–11.

Clark’s eight-year Nike deal is reportedly worth more than $28 million. At the time it was reported in April, the contract would be the most lucrative shoe deal in women’s basketball history.

A month later, Nike began teasing Wilson’s shoe, and the three-time MVP signed a six-year extension with the Swoosh in December for one of the richest women’s basketball shoe deals ever.

Fresh off her Sunday jersey retirement at the University of South Carolina in her hometown of Columbia, Wilson dropped her first line of pink and white shoes and clothes, available for purchase in May. She confirmed on social media that more colorways, sizes, slides, and apparel are on their way. Etched into the shoe are symbols honoring each of her parents, a quote from her late grandmother, and her signature logo, among other details. Shoes will be priced at $110 for adults and $90 for children.

“My first A’One collection reflects both my vision for the future of the game and the inspirations that fuel my performance and style every day,” the two-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist said in a statement. Wilson also has a sponsorship deal with Gatorade.

Nike has seen tremendous success with Ionescu’s shoe, which has crossed over to become one of the most popular choices in the NBA. Players like Tyrese Haliburton, Dereck Lively II, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Jordan Clarkson raved about the shoe to ESPN last year. “It’s an all-around comfortable, amazing shoe,” Caldwell-Pope said. Ionescu’s shoes go for $130 for adults and $100 for children.

Wilson’s clothing line has pink, black, and white designs of shorts, tights, shirts, and hoodies that feature her logo. The hoodies are lined with sateen specifically designed to protect Black hair, and the tights are shorter on one side to reflect her signature one-leg look.

Because she isn’t playing in Unrivaled this winter, Wilson will debut her new shoe during the WNBA season. The Aces begin the regular season May 17 in New York.