A’ja Wilson joined an elite company of WNBA athletes. Earlier this year, it was announced that she would receive a signature sneaker with Nike, marking the 14th woman in the league’s history to have their sneaker. The Las Vegas Aces star player has reportedly signed a six-year extension with Nike, one of the richest shoe deals ever for a women’s basketball player.
First reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, specific details about the deal have not been announced, that is, exactly how much Wilson will be paid. Considering that it’s “among the highest-paid shoe endorsements in the sport,” and Caitlin Clark reportedly received a $20 million deal, we can safely assume A’ja’s deal is within this ballpark.
Nike has been going all-in regarding women’s basketball as the sport's popularity is exploding. In 2022, Nike became an official investor in the league, and in October this year, it was announced that Nike extended its partnership with the NBA, WNBA, and G League for 12 years. We’ve also seen various sneaker releases that pay homage to the league, from the Air Jordan 3 Retro TEX to the Jordan 12 Brilliant Orange and the upcoming WNBA x Air Jordan 5.
Just recently, Paige Bueckers, who is projected to be one of the top picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft, became the first college player ever to receive their own Nike sneaker release, albeit a colorway of the Nike GT Hustle 3 and not her signature model. Alongside Wilson, Nike plans to launch a signature sneaker for Caitlin Clark and introduce Sabrina Ionescu’s third model in Fall 2025.
The Nike A’One, A’ja’s signature model, is expected to release in May 2025 through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Considering The Swoosh extended her deal by six years, we should expect plenty of follow-ups to the A’One in the future. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for more updates on the latest happenings in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
