A’ja Wilson has realized that delays are not the same thing as denial. The Nike signature shoe and athletic apparel collection of the two-time WNBA champion and three-time MVP was launched in Columbia with great pride.

A Milestone for Women’s Basketball

“It was just a matter of time, honestly,” Wilson said. “Because we are in it and we live it, we see how much we’re valued and worth. But now to see everyone in the basketball community finally catch up, it means the world. To say that I can put out a shoe, and to do this here at home, it’s truly special and I’m so excited to see what the future has to hold.”

Wilson’s signature shoe, the ‘A-One’, will retail for $110 in adult sizes and $90 in youth sizes, with availability starting in the spring. One of the most recognizable figures in women’s sports is Wilson, who is 28. She won the 2024 ESPY for Best Female Athlete and led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. Wilson has long been a dominant force in the game, a six-time All-Star and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Wilson’s long delay in getting her signature shoe has been questioned by many, especially after 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark secured a Nike deal before her. Roscoe Wilson, the father of Wilson, was not surprised by the delay, citing his daughter’s meticulous nature.

“Ever since A’ja was a child, she’s been that way,” he said. “She would have toys and collectibles as a kid and she would line them up and look at them, make sure they were arranged correctly, then change them around. She sees how she wants things to go before she finishes.”

“This is a product of her vision from a long time ago,” he added proudly.

A Game-Changer for Sports Marketing

According to Joe Favorito, a sports marketing executive and professor at Columbia University for many years, Wilson’s deal is a triumph for her, women’s sports, and the industry.

“It speaks to a diverse audience, not only for women but also people of color,” Favorito said. “They are creating a shoe that young women can wear and feel comfortable in—and that is revolutionary.”

Wilson’s deal followed Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking $28 million sponsorship contract with Nike. Wilson, who had a hands-on role in designing her shoe, acknowledged that the release has been a “weight off her shoulders.”