Why A’ja Wilson’s A’One is bigger than just another sneaker release — Andscape

A’ja Wilson’s new Nike A’One sneaker and the accompanying apparel line are a long time coming.

On the court, the three-time WNBA MVP and Las Vegas Aces player’s accolades and dominance are undeniable. Her attention to detail in every element of her game is why she’s thrived since the first basket of her professional career. Now, she’s positioned herself for the same success within the sneaker industry.

There were early questions about why the release took so long, but Nike didn’t leave anything to chance. They spent almost two years in the trenches ensuring every facet of the release was done at the highest level.

Now, that wait is about to pay off.

As the release date draws closer, Andscape spoke with women specializing in sneakers, fashion, sports, and culture about their feelings on the signature line, Nike’s marketing plan, and the historical significance of A’ja Wilson’s A’One release.

The two-time WNBA champion worked with Nike footwear designer Ben Nethongkome to create the A’One for comfort and versatility. The silhouette features a Cushlon 3.0 midsole, which provides a firmer base for responsiveness and smooth, cushioned landings. The traction pattern on the outsole allows hoopers to make cuts and pivots without sacrificing precision.

Technical aspects of the A’Ones are impressive, but the personal details give the shoe personality.

The A’One’s finishes pay tribute to the pearl necklace Wilson’s grandmother gave her as a child. Inspired by a clamshell protecting a pearl, the design features a strong, breathable upper, a Phylon midsole carrier, and a lightweight outsole that together cradle the cushioning at the core.

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Other personal touches include the phrase, “Weakness, weakness. We don’t have time for that,” from her 2021 Players’ Tribune essay and Celtic symbols on the back of the shoe’s tongue representing her parents’ names, Roscoe and Eva Wilson.

The “Pink A’ura” version is a special “Pre-Heat” colorway, a term Nike uses to describe a color scheme or design theme in signature models, and is linked to a unique storytelling element for the player. Pink A’ura is described as being “flush with Leo energy and lights up the court in her favorite color.” Another detail includes an “A” of her signature, referring to her role as an “A1” hooper.

“I am excited for her, especially knowing the record she has in the WNBA and how she likes to merge athletics with fashion. She’s probably one of the best-dressed people in the WNBA,” said Ashley Hall, a Philadelphia-based content creator and co-host of The Sole Table who has previously partnered with Nike and Fenty. Hall doesn’t hoop but enjoys the silhouette and colorway, believing the vibrant pink was “a really good idea on her part with it being her favorite color.”

The color design also caught the eye of the Seattle Storm’s new in-arena host, Kayce Kirihara. “I love that she dropped the pink pair first because it wasn’t like her team colorway,” she said. Kirihara was a fashion and sneaker influencer who hosted NBA and WNBA events before Storm leadership brought her on.

“I feel like it’s pretty iconic to drop your first signature sneaker in a colorway that probably not many people expected,” she said.

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The A’One’s debut colorway isn’t an accident. The former WNBA Rookie of the Year put her hands on every facet of the design, and she was surprised by how often the team deferred to her during the process. “They’re actually looking at me like, ‘What do you want to sell? You have the pen to your notebook. What do you want to do?’” she told Slam. It’s the reason the A’Ones so expertly tell her story.

“When it comes to any athlete’s shoe, I really want to feel like it’s them, in a shoe,” said Taja “TJ” Keasal, the host of sneaker and finance-centered YouTube show Talks with TJ. She read Wilson’s book, Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You, and believes having a more intimate knowledge of the Olympic gold medalist makes the sneaker more special.

“Her parents being incorporated. Certainly, her grandmother being incorporated. I just love that the shoe pulls so much of who makes A’ja, A’ja, into the shoe,” she said. “We don’t have to guess. We don’t have to wonder. This is uniquely designed by her.”

Nike’s A’One marketing plan included the Pre-Heat Tour, which consisted of pop-up shops throughout March and April in Las Vegas, Tampa, FL., and Columbia, SC., where she starred at the University of South Carolina. At each location, sneakerheads could buy the shoe before the wider retail release. It might seem obvious to bring the hometown hero back for the debut of her signature line, but it’s added more fervor to the release.

Olivia Irick is a South Carolina native who attended the pop-up in her home state. She waited in line for three hours to score some of the first pairs of the A’One while enjoying the event, which brought out a broad range of sneakerheads and Wilson fans.

“[To see] people camping out and lined up around the block for those shoes was just something beautiful to [witness], especially a [woman] having her own signature shoe,” Irick said. “It was a good moment for the city and sneaker culture.” Wilson attended the event, signed posters for kids, and took pictures with fans.

Irick proudly held up her pair of A’Ones during a video interview with Andscape.

“I’m not a pink girl, but because of who A’ja is, what she’s brought to the impact of the game and South Carolina, I’ve worn this shoe several times,” she said. “I guess I’m a pink girl, now.”

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Nike has “done a good job of hearing its athletes sincerely and hearing its consumer.” said sports reporter and ESPN analyst Monica McNutt. She believes the company didn’t overlook any details when it came time for the release.

“As we talk about the deliberate rollout, Sheryl Swoopes and A’ja Wilson linking up is not happenstance,” she said. “Sheryl Swoopes was the first woman to get a signature shoe for Nike, and I believe the first woman to have a signature shoe, period. And so in many ways, Nike has been a part of making history and a part of the culture.”

McNutt said she doesn’t question Nike’s commitment to the former three-time WNBA MVP. She believes the company learned from the prior outcries and used them as an opportunity for growth during a time when women’s basketball continues its incredible rise into the mainstream.

Nike will release an apparel line to accompany the A’One. The line includes a sateen-lined hoodie, the A’Symmetric one-legged sleeve, and a Calm Slide in the same pink hue as the A’One. The hoodie honors her mother, who didn’t want the superstar wearing bonnets in the airport.

Like many Black women, Kirihara sleeps with silk pillowcases to protect her hair, so a sateen-lined hoodie might seem like a small detail to others, but it “makes a huge difference.” She believes it represents more than just something to wear.

“There’s a story behind it. And I love that. I think it’s dope because a lot of people want to match things. They want to pair the outfit that goes with it,” she said.

Tiona Deniece, a sneaker-lover, songwriter, and content creator, thinks offering the Calm Slide is a win for the three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“I like the fact that she’s got a slide,” Deniece said. “Some people might not want a sneaker, but they might want a slide. So, it’s giving people options, even if they’re not athletes.”

She also loves the hoodie.

“It’s such a black girl thing. It’s so cultural. It’s also for other women. This is what I loved about the line in general. Yes, that’s a cultural thing, but other women can understand it,” she said.

Irick agreed.

“I wish they had it at the pop-up, but I definitely wanted the sideline hoodie,” she said. “That’s the one that I’m going for the most. But I also got a pair of the slides. It’s become my go-to slide.”

Keasal also loves the addition of a matching Calm Slide.“That coordination,” she said. “People may think, like, that’s not that big of a deal, but it [can] boost someone’s confidence.”

For many, A’ja Wilson’s signature line means something far beyond the hardwood. The WNBA built its success on the back of Black women. Yet, before the initial announcement of Wilson’s shoe last May, Candace Parker was the last Black WNBA player to receive a signature sneaker line.

That was 15 years ago.

Wilson’s popularity coincides heavily with the league’s increased visibility. The A’One release isn’t just about paying overdue dues; it proves persistence can pay off.

Deniece questioned whether a sneaker coming earlier would have the same impact. She mentioned how WNBA players “used to have to go overseas” to make money, “which means you had to love it, right?” She feels the league and the sneaker industry as a whole were waiting for someone like A’ja Wilson, whose numerous accolades speak for themselves.

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“I feel like her core fanbase and fanbase in the WNBA, or people who support basketball [would be there]. Would it be where it is now five years ago? Probably not. I think again, timing is everything. This is the perfect time for her to put out a shoe. It’s the perfect time for the WNBA to celebrate it,” she said.

“Now is the perfect time. It’s the perfect time for the WNBA, as we’re seeing it [blow up],” she said. “It’s the perfect time for her, because her career is only going to go up from here.”

Hall agreed.

“I think with her track record, I feel like it’s very long overdue,” she said. “I really hope that she gets the moment that she deserves.”

Keasal echoed the sentiments.

“I don’t think it can be understated or undermined in what this means right now,” she said. “We’re seeing this rise of women’s basketball. You’re also seeing its number one player in the world also be at the forefront. And I think that means a lot just in terms of representation, because she does represent a lot.”

The Nike A’One sneaker, apparel collection and Calm Slide will be available at select retailers on May 6.