WNBA champion A’Ja Wilson IS getting her own Nike sneaker after columnist Jemele Hill ripped the brand for giving Caitlin Clark a ‘$28million deal’ before announcing Aces star’s signature shoe
Of course A’Ja Wilson has her own Nike shoe.
After weeks of public outcry in the wake of Caitlin Clark’s $28 million deal with the apparel giant, the Las Vegas Aces star and two-time WNBA champion has revealed the upcoming release of her own signature Nike sneaker.
Many, including Atlantic columnist Jemele Hill, blasted Nike for signing the Indiana Fever rookie to a lucrative endorsement deal before giving a signature shoe to Wilson, a WNBA Finals MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year who initially signed with the brand in 2023.
In one critical tweet, Hill appeared to suggest that racism played a part in Nike’s timeline as white players such as Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart were all given signature sneakers before Wilson, who is African American. Others, such as Aces coach Becky Hammon, have stated that the Vegas center ‘needs her own shoe.’
But as Wilson has now revealed, her own signature Nike sneaker has been in the works for more than a year, which is why she announced the deal on Instagram by wearing a t-shirt that reads: ‘Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com.’
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A’Ja Wilson has revealed that she has her own upcoming signature shoe from Nike
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Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark dribbles during the second half of an WNBA preseason game
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Jemele Hill posted this message to X as she bemoaned Wilson not having her own shoe
Anyone entering that URL address into a web browser is brought to Nike’s website, where the brand responds directly to the controversy.
‘You thought we’d sleep on an SEC champion, national champion, #1 draft pick, five-time All-Star, US Olympic gold winner, WNBA Finals MVP, a statue-having, New York Times Best Seller, TIME 100 Most Influential People in 2024, two-time WNBA champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time WNBA MVP, and pettiest hooper on the internet?’ Nike asked, rhetorically.
It’s unclear if Nike intended to call Wilson the ‘pettiest’ or simply misspelled ‘prettiest.’
‘You thought,’ the message continued.
‘Of course A’Ja’s got a shoe.’
Wilson reacted to the news in a company 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,’ Wilson said in a news release issued by the sportswear giant. ‘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.’
The shoe, which will be called A’One, will hit the market in 2025.
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Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson looks to pass during the first half in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals
Wilson, a former No. 1 draft pick, five-time WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold-medal winner, joins tennis greats Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, soccer standout Megan Rapinoe and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu on Nike’s roster of signature athletes.
Clark, the most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history, reportedly has a new Nike deal valued at $28 million over eight years, which will also include her own signature sneaker.
‘I hope when girls wear this shoe, they believe in themselves,’ Wilson said. ‘I want them to hopefully lace them up, feel powerful and understand that nobody can stop them from their dreams. Set those goals high. Go get them – that’s the biggest thing.’
Wilson and the Aces are trying to become the first team to win three straight championships since the Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles from 1997-2000. They open the season Tuesday against the Phoenix Mercury.
