A'ja Wilson's just-revealed signature Nike 'A'One' shoe reflects her values. And fondness for pink
COLUMBIA — While A'ja Wilson was growing up in Columbia, the South Carolina State Fairgrounds was usually the place to see cattle or consume fried food.
On Monday, it was way more.
The three-time WNBA MVP who had her University of South Carolina jersey retired less than 24 hours before was there to film a sit-down interview.
Wilson sat on a production set draped in her custom pink hue and discussed with award-winning actress, producer and writer Issa Rae her new Nike signature shoe, the "A’One," the design of which was revealed for the first time at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The shoe highlights a collection that includes signature athletic shorts, sandals, T-shirts and a sweatshirt which will all be available for purchase in May. Prices have not yet been disclosed.
"It's incredible," Wilson said after filming ended. "It's a big moment to have Issa here ... to talk and have real conversations about my collection. It's a lot of fun, and that's what I wanted it to be like. That was my vision for my whole collection, to be fun, vibrant, but also a lovely journey along the way."
Dawn Staley tells A'ja Wilson about her signature Nike shoe
Last May, Wilson walked into Colonial Life Arena for a WNBA preseason game with the Las Vegas Aces wearing a shirt that read, "Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com." Anticipation grew as the two-time WNBA champion revealed she was getting a Nike signature shoe.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was the one who broke the news to Wilson.
"I blacked out. I don't really know what she said afterwards," Wilson said. "Everyone knows my relationship with her — she coached me in college, we won a gold medal together, she's my second mom. The bond that we have is forever. So for her to be the one to tell me, it was just a full-circle moment."
Wilson is just the 13th woman to have a signature shoe. Staley was the fourth when her "Nike Zoom S5 and S5 II" were released in 1998-99 as she began her WNBA career with the Charlotte Sting.
"(That moment) felt like I was doing it for them, doing it for her," Wilson said. "The ones that laid the foundation down for me to be able to stand here with a Nike collaborator ... (they laid) those bricks down, but now it's my turn for the next generation. It was truly special."
Why honesty, individuality is key for WNBA star A'ja Wilson
Wilson talked Monday about hating basketball as a youth, about being turned away because of the sweat and was open about her lack of desire even to play, painting a picture of her awkward teen years.
Her athletic journey isn't filled with clichés. She didn't have a basketball in her hand as a toddler and was instead a self-described "normal kid" who loved the couch. She even admitted that when thinking about picking a college, she thought about boys.
She's human. She's who she is. So especially on days like Monday, a celebration of a monumental moment in her career, that didn't change.
"Sometimes I'm maybe too honest, but that's what I try to give to people so they understand the realness of it," Wilson said. "People get blinded by the accolades and the uniform and say 'Oh, you make it look so easy and effortless' but they tend to forget how it wasn't just pretty all the time. I hope that I can always show that to people because I'm human, I go through things, I have feelings ... I'm so glad that I can be honest, so I can hopefully open up doors for people to be honest with themselves."
Humanity bleeds through her Nike shoes. It's footwear painted in Wilson's personality, crafted by her roots.
The shoe's tongue features the tattoos she has on each arm. The bottom is engraved with her favorite quotes. She said she doesn't just want basketball players to wear them, but any and everyone which is why a key aspect was making youth sizes, to include and inspire the next generation.
Her grandmother always told her "pretty girls wear pearls," so at the height of her self-consciousness, she wore pearls then became the most confident version of herself. The various pink tones of the shoe represent her confidence, passion and favorite color, with the lighter shade a reminder of what opening a pearl looks like—a nod to her grandmother.
"I try to help people understand that it's never just about me, it's always bigger than what it may seem in the moment," Wilson said. "My signature is on it but the messages behind it, the journey of how we got here. It's so much bigger than basketball ... this is everyone's journey. You can live your own journey through your own way, but look cute while doing it. You can have fun while doing it. So I hope that's what this collection shows."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the Paste BN Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin