When Caitlin Clark inked a jaw-dropping $28 million, 8-year deal with Nike, it was like dropping a bomb in the world of women’s basketball. And as the dust settled, the obvious question was: What about A’ja Wilson? The 2x WNBA champ and Las Vegas Aces superstar, who has been Nike’s golden girl, found herself in an awkward situation. Was Nike playing favorites? And more importantly, what was A’ja’s response? Spoiler alert: It involves a lot of patience and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
In an exclusive episode of Locked on Women’s Basketball, Gigi Speer and Peter Verry took listeners on a wild ride behind the scenes of the Nike offices after Clark’s blockbuster deal was announced. The first thought that crossed A’ja’s mind? “Am I not good enough? What more do I have to do? Show up at Nike HQ with a dunk contest?”
But before she could book her flight to Oregon, Nike swooped in with a three-word piece of advice that would make any Zen master proud: “Just relax, A’ja!” It was as if they channeled their inner Bob Marley and told her to “Trust the process, mon.”
Apparently, Wilson had been laboring over her signature shoe for nearly two years. Yes, that’s right. While the rest of us were binge-watching shows and baking sourdough during the pandemic, A’ja was knee-deep in shoe design, perfecting every stitch, and keeping it all hush-hush. Talk about patience!
The Aces star didn’t just sit back and watch, though. She was deeply involved in the nitty-gritty of her signature line, which, according to Verry, is going to blow our minds. Forget the bulky LeBron’s or the heavy-duty Nike Cosmic Unity she’s been sporting; the A’One is set to be a game-changer. A’ja’s new kicks are rumored to have more in common with Kobe’s sleek silhouettes than LeBron’s battle-ready boots. Low-top, versatile, and ridiculously comfortable—exactly what you wouldn’t expect from a 6’4” forward who dominates the paint.
But here’s the kicker: Nike and A’ja are keeping things so secretive that even the Pentagon might be jealous. Yet, all this hush-hush only amps up the hype, right? With all eyes now on A’ja’s signature shoes, it’s clear that patience (and a little sarcasm) really does pay off. The best part? A’ja can finally say, with a smirk, that she’s got a shoe she’s truly happy with—no secret Dunk Contests required.
So, while we wait for the official drop of the A’One, there’s a gold medal game against France that might distract us—at least for a moment. Until then, stay tuned for more updates, and maybe take a page out of A’ja’s book: relax and trust the process.
