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A’ja Wilson has made WNBA history yet again.
On Sunday, the Las Vegas Aces star became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a single season. Wilson notched her 1,000th point late in the fourth quarter in the 84-71 win over the Connecticut Sun.
With 1:18 left in the game, the Aces called a time out so Wilson — amid “MVP” chants from the home crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena and being mobbed by teammates — could take in the moment.
Nike, too, celebrated Wilson’s moment. Through its Nike Basketball social media handles, the athletic giant shared a black-and-white text image that read “A’One Thousand.”
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Wilson, who had 29 points in the win, can add onto her points total with two regular season games remaining: a road matchup against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday and a home game on Thursday against the Dallas Wings.
During the game, Wilson had a familiar pair of sneakers laced up. She opted for her metallic silver Nike LeBron 21 PE with hits of gold throughout. In terms of tech, the shoe features an Air Zoom unit in both the heel and forefoot, which is paired with a foam that Nike described as “soft and springy.” It also includes a strong, top-loaded plastic plate added to keep the wearer steady and give he or she “more snap when taking off.”
Although Wilson wears looks from the signature shoe franchise of NBA star LeBron James, Nike announced Wilson as its next signature athlete in May. Her forthcoming signature sneaker, the A’One, is slated to arrive in 2025.
Speaking with FN during WNBA All-Star Weekend in July, Wilson provided some insights about her A’One sneaker.
“When people look at my position in basketball, they think of a big-man shoe, a forward or center shoe. The A’One is not that. It is the complete opposite,” Wilson told FN. “It’s very versatile because that is my style of play. And I wanted a shoe that was going to be comfortable and durable for 40 minutes because the last thing I want to worry about on court are my shoes. And it’s a low top.”
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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.
