On set at Blok Photo Studio in Phoenix, photographer Flo Ngala asks A’ja Wilson to give her some movement. Without hesitation, the WNBA star starts dancing to the Beyoncé playlist that is blaring through the speakers with a beaming smile and an energy that’s beyond infectious.
And why shouldn’t she be smiling? At just 27, Wilson, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, is 48 hours away from playing in her sixth WNBA All-Star Game, at a time when women’s basketball has never been hotter. Then, she’s immediately off to Paris to compete for her second gold medal as a member of Team USA.
For FN’s cover shoot, Wilson is being photographed for the first time in a hoodie of her own design from her highly anticipated collection with Nike, as well as some of her other pieces and the Swoosh’s most iconic sneakers.
Her own forthcoming signature sneaker, the A’One, will soon be in her home alongside those from legends she admires — Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie, among others.
When the Nike A’One releases in 2025, Wilson will be the first Black woman with a signature basketball shoe since Adidas launched its last look for Candace Parker in 2011, the Ace Versatility. Wilson will also be the first Black woman to receive a Nike signature basketball shoe in more than 20 years, the last being Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes and Chamique Holdsclaw.
“To be the next Black woman with a signature shoe, oh my gosh, I am so excited for next year. I can’t contain it,” Wilson said. “It’s such a big moment. When [the news] first dropped, Coach Staley hit me, Sheryl hit me, Lisa hit me and they were all like, ‘You deserve this.’ To have greats, Hall of Famers like that say that to me, I was like, ‘God, thank you.’”
WORTH THE WAIT
When Nike announced Wilson as its next signature athlete in May, the brand quelled long-simmering frustrations…
Read the full article here
