The journey of designing and releasing a signature shoe is a long one. A’ja Wilson, whose Nike shoe is slated for a 2025 release, shared the joys and challenges of the process at a media event Monday.
The two-time WNBA champion was one of the featured guests during a series of discussions about all-things basketball, which took place at Nike’s headquarters in New York City. Wilson was joined on stage by Nike Inc. president of geographies and marketplace Craig Williams, as well as Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum via Zoom. The conversation was moderated by ESPN and MSG basketball analyst Monica McNutt.
Among the topics discussed, the three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player shared the pressures that come with having a signature shoe.
Watch on FN
“There is pressure when it comes to competing with other brands or just wanting to [have] the best shoe, but at the same time you don’t want the message to get lost, you don’t want the storytelling to get lost. That’s tough because there are a lot of great ideas,” Wilson said. “We have some dope shoes out there. You don’t want your shoe to be just another one. You want longevity, you want a shoe to have a name after a game you had, like the [Air Jordan 12] ‘Flu Game.’ That type of substance is a lot of pressure.”
She continued, “Sitting at the table with your team, having those hard conversations, that caught me by surprise. I thought they were going to be like, ‘Here’s a shoe, we’re just going to put your signature on it’ [Laughs.] But no, they were like, ‘We’re going to break it down,’ and I didn’t think I was ready for that, but now I am and I am so excited and thankful for my team.”
On stage, Wilson, too, shared the joys of being a signature athlete.
“It’s a blessing to me, honestly. It’s something that you dream of as a kid, like, ‘Oh, I get my shoe. Oh, my God, this is it.’ To see it coming to reality has been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun,” Wilson said. “I have an awesome team that is trying to put my weird words that I say into a shoe, which is great, because I’m like, ‘I want the thing that goes the thing,’ and then they’re like, ‘OK, we’ve got it.'”
She continued, “It’s unique to me because it’s a shoe that can do a lot. It’s a versatile shoe — anyone can wear it. It’s not a big man shoe, a big woman shoe. It’s going to be comfortable for everyone, and I hope everyone feels that.”
Nike announced in May that it was working with Wilson on a signature collection that would include a shoe, dubbed the A’One. A month later, the brand revealed her logo, which features a star in the “A” of her signature.
Speaking exclusively with FN 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.”
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.
