A’ja Wilson’s Nike Signature A’One Sneakers Celebrated During Aces-Phoenix Preseason Game Tuesday
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Story by Cassandra Cousineau Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Officially speaking, the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in a preseason game Tuesday, but everyone in the arena knew the night was about Aces superstar A’ja Wilson and the debut of her Nike signature sneaker that eclipsed the exhibition match that drew another sellout.
Wilson’s immense star power was on full bright display at Michelob Ultra Arena Tuesday as her A’One sneaker debuted and sold out in less than five minutes after its Tuesday morning launch.
Nike made a limited number of Wilson’s all-pink A’One sneakers. By 10:05 AM, the shoe had sold out, a feat rarely seen in the women’s sports merchandise market. Retailing at $110 for adults and $90 for kids, the launch reflects growing demand for WNBA-branded apparel and women’s basketball merchandise.
Analysts note the WNBA’s merchandise sales have increased double digits over the past three seasons, with Nike reporting that fan interest in women’s signature lines is at an all-time high.
The A’One campaign was further elevated by a Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama, marking her directorial debut in a major brand campaign. The video, centered on Wilson’s journey and mentality, was rolled out across Nike’s digital platforms, WNBA League Pass broadcasts, and select national television slots, generating significant engagement on social media.
Within 24 hours of the ad’s debut, clips from the campaign had over 8 million combined views across Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
The impact wasn’t limited to the digital space. The Aces are leveraging the buzz around Wilson’s shoe through “A’One Night,” a marketing activation held during the Aces home game.
In the WNBA’s 27-year history, there have been just 13 players who have had a signature shoe. The list includes Sheryl Swoops, Rebecca Lobo, and Wilson’s former coach, Dawn Staley. Recent additions to the list are former Aces center Candace Parker, Sabrina Ionescu, and Brianna Stewart’s fire red Puma’s “Stewie 2 Ruby” named after her daughter.
The themed night includes player warmups in A’One colorways, custom in-arena branding, live merchandise pop-ups, and giveaways for fans who showed up wearing the sneaker. Team sources confirmed the arena’s retail kiosks experienced record merchandise sales during the first hour of doors opening.
“We’re seeing a perfect convergence of athlete branding, team support, and community engagement,” Aces President Nikki Fargas said. “This isn’t just a sneaker launch—it’s a model for how to grow women’s sports through smart marketing and authentic storytelling.”
Wilson, 28, expressed gratitude for the response on her Instagram story shortly after the sellout: “We’re dropping again Thursday at Nike stores and other spots everywhere. I do this for the real ones, always.”
In a sea of pink, Aces/Raiders owner Mark Davis sat in his usual courtside seat wearing the A’One OG Pearl inspired by the necklace given to A’ja by her grandma. “She’s a wonderful woman and she does so many great things off the court. I’m fortunate that we have A’ja Wilson on our team,” Davis told LVSportsBiz.com
After the game, Wilson elaborted:
In addition to the sneaker, the A’One line includes a limited run of graphic tees, hoodies, and Wilson’s signature one-legged compression sleeve. Nike confirmed that a second release will roll out across Nike-owned stores and select retail partners nationwide, with restocks expected to move quickly based on initial sales volume.
While signature shoe deals are standard for NBA stars, they remain exceedingly rare in the WNBA. Wilson becomes just the 14th player in league history to receive a signature shoe and the first Las Vegas Aces player to do so.
The moment cements Wilson not only as the face of the Aces, but as a pillar in Nike’s women’s basketball marketing strategy moving forward.
For the record, the Aces defeated Phoenix, 85-84.
But on this night, it was Wilson and her powerful impact dominated.
