A’ja Wilson has etched her name in the basketball history books. A two-time WNBA Champion, three-time MVP, multiple DPOY titles, NCAA Champion, Olympic gold medalist, and so much more. But there was one thing left that she ticked off the list this year, her signature shoes.
Sneaker culture and basketball go hand in hand. Every icon of the sport, male or female, has had their own line of signature shoes. Wilson, who has been deserving of the honor for a long time, released her shoes in May 2025.
A lot of thought went into crafting the perfect shoes for A’ja Wilson’s collection in collaboration with Nike. The company took inspiration from Wilson’s personal life and stories over the years to come up with the concept for A’One.
During a conversation with Andscape in February 2025, the Aces star recalled a lesson from South Carolina HC Dawn Staley that helped with the shoes’ creation.
“I remember Coach Staley used to yell at me when I was being average. But I don’t want anything average,” Wilson said. “I wanted my shoe to be perfect, because it deserves to be perfect.”
“It deserves its own moment. Because this shoe is real. And these don’t happen often. So, if we’re gonna do it, let’s do it big.”
A’ja Wilson became the 14th player in WNBA history to get her own signature shoes. She was also just the fourth active player at the time, alongside Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Sydney Colson, with her own collection.
The demand for Wilson to have her own shoes was unprecedented. In her opinion, everyone wanted to see her honored because it was long overdue. But instead of rushing into it, Wilson took her time and came up with the best possible shoes with Nike.
A’ja Wilson’s grandmother also made a major contribution to the shoe design
A’ja Wilson’s grandmother, Hattie Wade Rakes, gave her a special gift when she was 10-11 years old, which started her love for pearls. Ms. Hattie gifted Wilson a necklace that had a message engraved on it:
“A pretty girl always wears her pearls.”
When Wilson got the opportunity to design her own shoes with Nike, she referred to her grandma’s message that she holds close to her heart.
“Nike opened up a world of design that I could relate to because of my relationship with my grandmother,” Wilson said. “I will always say: This shoe may have my name on it, but it’s so much bigger than me. This shoe is so much deeper than me.”
A’ja Wilson said her shoes are more about her family and her beginnings. At the same time, it’s also meant to inspire those who are in Wilson’s place, from when she was a teenager. The Aces star said that anyone who wants to be great can take a look at her journey through her shoes and get inspired to do the same for themselves.
Read More:
Garnet Greatness: Ranking the Best South Carolina Gamecocks of the Dawn Staley Era
Dawn Staley Jokes About ‘Coming Out of Retirement’ After Lacing Up A’ja Wilson’s A’Ones
