A’ja Wilson announced a second major partnership this week as Nike produced the Las Vegas Aces star’s first signature shoe. In Saturday’s press release from Nike, Wilson and the brand have collaborated on the shoe for over a year. The A’One shoe will release to retailers across the world in 2025.
Andscape’s Sean Hurd shares on the significance of Wilson’s signature shoe from Nike:
- Wilson is the first Black WNBA player to have a signature shoe since Candace Parker (2010-11)
- Wilson is the first Black woman since Sheryl Swoopes (2002) to have a signature basketball shoe with Nike.
Excerpts from the press release:
- “It’s been incredible working with Nike toward a dream of having my collection, and it really is an honor to take this next step and become a Nike signature athlete,” says Wilson. “From my logo to the look of the shoe and the pieces throughout the collection, we’ve worked to make sure every detail is perfectly tuned to my game and style.”
- Wilson’s experience with Nike has been reflected throughout the design process, says Ben Nethongkome, the lead footwear designer for her collection. From the onset, he says, A’ja was quick to share her aesthetic and performance priorities for her signature shoe, and her collaborative spirit and infectious energy helped the design team bring her vision to life.
- “The design process with Nike was really gratifying, and I didn’t realize how much goes into designing a shoe,” says Wilson. “My biggest asks were that the shoe was light and comfortable for all the hours I spend on the court, and that it also looks really good. It’s versatile, and I hope people will wear it when they’re hooping but also just when they’re walking around every day. It’s so exciting to be sharing my signature, a piece of me, with the world.”
.@_ajawilson22 dropped some clues for her new Nike signature shoes 👀
Here’s what to expect for now. pic.twitter.com/rUB23ZwgZm
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 11, 2024
Wilson joins Nike’s growing list of women in sports who are their signature athletes including Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Naomi Osaka and Sabrina Ionescu.
