Nike has officially revealed A’ja Wilson’s first signature sneaker, and the digital streets have some opinions.
On Tuesday (Feb. 3), Nike released a short clip showing off their latest product across their social media accounts, with a brief caption reading, “Introducing the A’One. Unapologetically designed for the 2x WNBA Champion, 3x MVP, 6x All-Star @aja22wilson. Coming May 2025.”
Wilson then issued her own post celebrating the milestone, typing a simple and effective message along with a picture of herself wearing a customized grill from Johnny Dang: “No Leaks @nikebasketball, A’ONE HAS ARRIVED.”
So, first things first—the sneaker.
The sneaker’s design language appears to be a blend between Nike’s Cosmic Unity 3 and the Air Max 270, implementing details from both models while creating a wholly unique vibe. Wilson’s sneaker will debut in the allover “Pink Aura” colorway, with elements paying homage to the 28-year-old’s life, such as the embroidery behind the tongue, which shows love to her parents. The Las Vegas Aces star’s kicks also feature pearl motifs throughout the body, serving as a love letter and nod to her grandmother, Hattie Rakes, who gave her the jewelry as a child.
And don’t worry, Wilson’s A’Ones sneakers are set to be released alongside an apparel collection featuring sweats, slides, shorts, and more, so you can get those ‘fits off.
Nike previously told FN in 2024 that the A’One was crafted in partnership with the WNBA Champion to create “an optimal combination of cushioning, traction, fit and support” that’s “comfortable and durable for 40 minutes” of basketball.
In talking to the Review-Journal, Ben Nethongkome, the lead footwear designer for A’One’s collection, revealed that Wilson was so ingrained into the sneaker’s creation that, at one point, she had to correct Nike on the sneaker’s design and functionality. “She was like, ‘No, no, no. We need something that looks fast and matches my energy on court, matches my game,” Nethongkome recalled. “So the team went back to the drawing board—and she was right.”
And now, the reaction.
A’Ja Wilson is a social media darling, so it should be no surprise that netizens were quick to retweet, repost, and comment on Nike’s latest sneaker. Some fans were unimpressed by the design, with folks opining that the aesthetic was “lazy.” At the same time, other online socialites’ comments expressed their love for the A’One.
“Ngl, these is hard Im not just saying that cause she is Basketball Bae,” one account typed. “Yea Nike went crazy with the A’Ones These are my next hoop shoes for sure,” another netizen lovingly expressed. “These aren’t bad. She should’ve had a signature shoe years ago with her accolades. The league should’ve been putting their machine behind her,” another person opined. “Icl the WNBA signature shoes be colder than NBA player’s shoes,” someone else said.
Look through the collection above.
