John Kim A’ja Wilson has built up quite the career in just six seasons as a professional basketball player. A two-time WNBA league MVP, a two-time WNBA Champion, and two-time WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year, A’ja’s stacking up achievements that are legitimately amounting to GOAT status, further validated by the official announcement of A’ja being the next Nike signature athlete.
For over a year, A’ja has been working closely with Nike to create a collection of footwear and apparel that live up to her standards of performance and style. While the A’One shoe has yet to be unveiled, Nike confirms a release in 2025.
“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,” says A’ja.
Ben Nethongkome, lead designer of the Sabrina 1, Nike Book 1, and the Nike Ja 1, has collaborated with Wilson on this debut, noting “The experience working with A’ja on her collection reflects who she is on the court and in the locker room.”
With Sabrina Ionescu breaking into the signature shoe scene in mid-2023 and Caitlin Clark signing a lucrative signature shoe deal with the Swoosh earlier this year, there’s been a lot of chatter regarding the status of A’ja Wilson getting her due and why players that are undeniably less accomplished (albeit as popular) were ahead of the curve. Nike is hushing that discourse with OfCourseIHaveAShoe.com, a unique website dedicated to A’ja new kicks and more.
Prior to being named as a signature athlete, A’ja Wilson has been the face of the Cosmic Unity franchise and recently represented Nike during the On Air presentation in Paris. Below is a A.I. designed prototype for A’ja, one of the thirteen A.I.R. fantasies unveiled at that event.
