The race for the WNBA’s Commissioner's Cup is underway, and on Sunday, June 1, the Las Vegas Aces added another win to their campaign, outpacing the Seattle Storm 75-70. Center A’ja Wilson led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds, a stat line that has become standard for the reigning MVP. Wilson currently leads the Aces in every statistical category, showing her dominance at a time where VISibility for women’s sports is at an all-time high. But Wilson’s influence isn’t limited to the hardwood.
Off the court, she’s charting new territory, too. It's been nearly a month since Nike released Wilson’s long-anticipated signature shoe, the “A’One”, and it’s already made history. The A’One’s success is evidence of a cultural shift, further proving that women athletes, especially Black women, deserve the same spotlight and investment traditionally reserved for their male counterparts. Wilson, along with her shoes, are redefining the game for future generations.
Credentialed
Few athletes can rival A’ja Wilson’s dominance on the court. With a resume that includes an NCAA title, two Olympic golds, two WNBA championships, and three league MVP awards, it was only a matter of time before Nike gave her the spotlight she earned.
Wilson signed with Nike in 2018, shortly after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft out of powerhouse South Carolina. Over the next six years, she became one of the faces of the WNBA, drawing global attention. So, when Nike hadn’t yet made her a signature athlete, fans began to question why.
The A’One had been a long time coming, as Wilson explained to actress Isaa Rae in an interview for Nike. “A lot of people were fighting for this, like if they didn’t get it soon it was gonna be ugly.” Wilson said, “But I love that, because it’s like they care, they want to be a part of it.”
In December 2024, just a few months after the A’One was unveiled, Wilson signed a six-year contract extension with Nike, and ESPN reported that the A’One would be among the most lucrative shoe deals in women’s basketball history.
Her landmark deal with Nike and the release of the A’One sends a powerful message to women athletes: our talent, influence, and marketability are worthy of major investment.
‘Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com’
In May 2024, A’ja Wilson wore a sweatshirt that read ‘Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com’ ahead of the Aces’ preseason game against the Puerto Rican national team. This served as the official teaser for Wilson’s signature shoe, which was released to the public one year later in May 2025. In a statement on the Nike website, the shoe giant said “As Nike continues to expand sport for the next generation, the brand is introducing A’ja Wilson as the newest member of its signature athlete roster.”
Wilson becomes just the second black woman to have her own signature shoe with Nike. The first was Sheryl Swoopes in 1995. Nearly 30 years later, the A’One launch highlights how rare this level of recognition remains for Black women in sports.
Wilson explained to Complex that the release fulfilled a childhood dream. “I wanted to be the Nike model, I wanted to have my own shoe. But those dreams felt very lofty because I didn't have the mindset of a champion. So I was like, I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I want to do it,” Wilson said.
As she shared in the Nike interview, Wilson wanted the shoe to reflect the versatility of her own game. It’s built to perform off the court, but also stylish enough to wear off the court. She also told Complex that she didn’t want the shoe to be like anything else on the market. “I feel like from looking at it and from building it, I didn't want it to have any components of anyone else. It was just my own,” Wilson said.
Redefining Success
The A’One officially dropped on May 6, 2025, in its debut “Pink A’ura” colorway. It sold out on Nike’s website in under five minutes. Less than two weeks later, three more colorways were released: “OG Pearl,”’ “Indigo Girl,” and “Leo Lights.”
The A’One’s rapid success is more than a personal win for Wilson. It's a cultural shift. Her shoe joins a growing movement that’s redefining what commercial success looks like for women athletes. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu released her signature shoe in 2023, and Bleacher Report announced that it was the second-most worn shoe among NBA players during the 2024-25 season.
With all of her success, Wilson wants to inspire the next generation of women athletes. This goal has been a big focus of her A’One release. “I hope when girls wear this shoe, they believe in themselves,” Wilson said in Nike’s official release. “I want them to hopefully lace them up, feel powerful and understand that nobody can stop them from their dreams.”
Advocating for the next generation of athletes has been something she’s focused on throughout her career. “Youth is very important to me, and letting them know and understand that they’re next,” Wilson said to Nike, “like we’re planting seeds for them to flourish and grow so they don’t have to go through a lot of things that we went through.”
Through the A’One release, Wilson also wanted to pay homage to all of the people that worked so hard to get her there. “The stories behind it, the journey of how we got here is literally my purpose,” she said to Nike, “to continue to show people: always bet on yourself.”
After years of building her brand and proving her dominance on the court, Wilson's success shows that women in sports can command the same spotlight and endorsement opportunities traditionally reserved for their male counterparts. For the next generation, this moment isn’t just about a shoe. It’s about representation, recognition, and the real possibility of building a legacy both on and off the court.
