On Marketing: A’ja Wilson Releases Date of Nike Signature Shoe And Apparel Collection
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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com WNBA/Aces Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — A’ja Wilson is having a moment—actually, a series of moments.
Fresh off the retirement of her No. 22 jersey at South Carolina, the Las Vegas Aces superstar announced the official launch date of her first-ever Nike signature shoe and apparel collection. The Nike A’One, which arrives in May, just in time for the beginning of the 2025 WNBA season, will retail for $110 for adults and $90 for youth.
Available at select retailers and Nike.com in a pink colorway, the shoe is the latest milestone in Wilson’s growing marketing influence, both on and off the court.
But this launch isn’t just about sneakers. Wilson’s partnership with Nike has been in the works for a while. She signed a six-year extension with the brand last year.
The A’One design intentionally pays tribute to her family, with replicas of her tattoos honoring her parents. A prominent message on the heel reads: “Weakness, weakness. We don’t have time for that.” The shoe frame also has a pearlized look, a nod to a necklace she received from her grandmother.
Wilson’s Nike product launch comes just after her jersey retirement at the University of South Carolina, a full-circle moment for one of the greatest Gamecocks of all time.
The ceremony at Colonial Life Arena celebrated Wilson’s impact on the program, where she led South Carolina to its first national championship in 2017 and became the unanimous National Player of the Year in 2018. Now, with a signature sneaker and apparel line, she’s expanding her reach beyond basketball, bringing her influence to an even bigger audience.
Her father, Roscoe Wilson, recognized her daughter’s commitment to being a meticulous planner.
“Ever since A’ja was a child, she’s been that way,” Roscoe Wilson said. “She would have toys and collectibles as a kid and she would line them up and look them and make sure they were lined up correctly, then change them around. So I always just took that as her way. She’s always been meticulous in her planning. She sees how she wants things to go before she finishes.”
The 28-year-old Wilson, a three-time WNBA MVP, took to social media to emphasize that the A’One is available in all sizes, including kids’ sizes as small as 1Y.
The collection also features eight pieces of apparel for women, men, and kids. Nike describes it as blending high fashion with classic athletic wear. One of the standout pieces is the A’Symmetric tight, inspired by Wilson’s signature one-legged tights look—a style she started during her rookie year.
As sports marketing expert Joe Favorito put it: “This is important not just for women’s sports, but for sports in general.”
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