A’ja Wilson’s Nike A’One — the WNBA Star’s First-Ever Signature Shoe — Arrives in May
The moment A’ja Wilson fans have long been waiting for has finally arrived: Nike has revealed the A’One, the WNBA star’s first-ever signature shoe.
“We worked for over two years to create the Nike A’One to help me redefine the limits of greatness and advance the game to another level,” Wilson said in a statement. “My signature shoe is worth the wait — engineered for my game and my style, and built to motivate the next generation to go big.”
Speaking with FN in August 2024, Wilson stated her signature shoe would be a “versatile” low-top shoe that was going to be “comfortable and durable for 40 minutes” — and that’s what Nike created with insights from the WNBA megastar.
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In a statement, Nike further stated the A’One offers “an optimal combination of cushioning, traction, fit and support.”
In terms of tech, the Nike A’One features the brand’s Cushlon ST2 foam, which the brand explained works with a firmer base in order to offer the wearer responsiveness and cushioned landings. Also, there’s a reimagined traction pattern underfoot to allow the wearer to make cuts and pivots “with precision,” as well as supportive insoles and breathable mesh uppers.
“The A’One is meant to go the distance, taking control from the jump and dominating the floor on every play,” Wilson said in a statement. “From the beginning, we designed the shoe to both support my game and to provide young hoopers a tool to help them level up. The A’One aces that assignment, and we took the time to really get it right in order to deliver exactly what I need to push my performance and inspire the next generation to give it their all on every play.”
As for aesthetics, the A’One is replete with personal nods and messages. For instance, pearl motifs and finishes are featured throughout, which serve as a nod to the necklace Wilson’s grandmother, Hattie Rakes, gave to her when she was a child. Another nod to her grandmother appears on the outsole, her message from Wilson’s book: “As a matter of fact, the best is yet to come.”
Other details include the Celtic symbols for “mom” and “dad” for her parents and on the heel, her signature logo that features a star inside the “A.” Also, Nike and Wilson added one of her postgame quotes — “Weakness, weakness. We don’t have time for that — on the heel as a nod to her “trademark tenacity.”
The A’One will launch in the “Pink A’ura” colorway, which Nike explained “symbolizes Wilson’s ability to lead with confidence, loyalty and passion.” What’s more, the brand stated the pink layers create a “gradual ambiance that’s flush with Leo energy” and “lights up the court in her favorite color.”
“In A’ja, the next generation has a beacon to look to — an inspiration point,” Ben Nethongkome, lead designer for the A’One, said in a statement. “She wants to lead the charge for young hoopers to strive for greatness. We designed the Nike A’One so that when girls lace up, they channel A’ja’s encouragement through her footwear, knowing they can be like her one day.”
The Nike A’One sneaker will release in May, and will also be available in kids’ sizes as small as 1Y. The sneaker will release via the Snkrs app, Nike.com and at select retail locations.
Aside from the signature shoe, Nike and Wilson will deliver an apparel collection featuring eight pieces for women, men and kids. Nike stated the range “conveys a contemporary aesthetic that pairs high fashion with bold looks and classically timeless sports style” for a “system of dress that can be worn together or combined with other pieces.”
The highlight of the collection is the A’Symmetric tight, which resembles the single-leg sleeve Wilson popularized on court. During FN’s exclusive interview with FN in August 2024, Wilson explained she began wearing the single-leg sleeve — which has since been adopted by the younger generations she’s inspired — during her rookie year because of pain from training camp.
“At the University of South Carolina, Coach Staley was strict about our uniform. We weren’t allowed to wear sleeves unless it was medically cleared,” she told FN. “In training camp [with the Aces], I was like, ‘Oh my God, my leg is not here today’ — my left leg, the one I use the most because I’m left-handed. So I tried the sleeve, but I cut the other one off because I wasn’t used to wearing sleeves and I hated it.”
Her signature collection also includes the Calm slide, a cropped women’s hoodie with a sateen-lined hood, both cropped and full-length T-shirts, a hoodie, mesh shorts and more.
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.
