On set at Blok Photo Studio in Phoenix for her FN cover shoot, just 48 hours away from playing in her sixth WNBA All-Star Game, A’ja Wilson has more on her mind than just sneakers — or basketball.
We’re only days removed from the historic announcement that President Joe Biden has exited the U.S. presidential race and endorsed current Vice President Kamala Harris. At press time, Harris is considered the presumptive Democratic nominee, making her the first woman of color on a major party ticket.
With election day just months away, Wilson, who is passionate about issues of politics, women’s rights and race, recognizes the importance her voice carries beyond the basketball court. And she is committed to using her platform.
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“I’m always going to encourage people to vote and know that they have a voice and know that it is how you get what you want. We can’t complain and then don’t do the work. I encourage people as much as possible to vote wherever they are — absentee, anything,” Wilson said.
At the same time, she’s not suffering fools. “I don’t like being bothered by people that feel like they have a say in things that have nothing to do with them — like women’s rights,” she added.
The issue of racial equality also sparks her ire, especially a recent report that a Black woman, Sonya Massey, was shot and killed in her Illinois home by a sheriff’s deputy, who has since been fired from the agency and charged with murder.
“Like Malcolm X said, ‘The most disrespected person in the world is the Black woman,’” she said. “Every day you’re fighting a battle. You can wake up and the world hates you or the world loves you. Navigating that is something I’ve started to learn how to do, and I’ve done it vocally, which has really helped me. It helped me realize that I’m not by myself.”
Indeed, Wilson — one of FN’s cover stars for August, along with Breanna Stewart — was very forthcoming in her book “Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You,” a biography detailing her experiences as a young Black girl in America and sharing how she was able to find success. The book debuted on The New York Times bestseller list almost as soon as it launched in February.
“Writing my book, I felt like I was writing in my diary,” Wilson said. “But when I did my book tour, all these people came out and were like, ‘This is my life.’”
She continued, “Growing up, it was hard for me to speak on these things because I went to private school with only 5 percent Black kids. I couldn’t have these conversations because no one looked like me. As I got older, I started to be in tune with myself and was like, I don’t care who’s in the room, I’m going to say what I have to say because I need to be heard.”
With her book, she was also able to connect with younger players in the WNBA, including rookie Aaliyah Edwards of the Washington Mystics. “She read my book and was sending me quotes as if I didn’t write it,” Wilson said with a laugh. “It really warmed my heart.
For the August issue, FN profiled two of the WNBA’s most influential and beloved stars: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart. The two spoke about activism, signature shoes and being role models for generations of female athletes to come.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
