LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson joined an exclusive list of professional athletes on Tuesday with the release of her signature Nike shoe, the A’One. To celebrate, the Aces hosted A’One Night alongside their WNBA preseason finale against the Phoenix Mercury.
Fan Activations
Fans had the opportunity to collect free posters, T-shirts and shoelery for their new A’Ones. There was also a towel giveaway and a special locker exhibit curated by Nike that served as a photo station for fans. The exhibit was a tribute to Wilson’s journey, ranging from her time at Heathwood High in Columbia, South Carolina, to her groundbreaking career at the hometown University of South Carolina, all the way to her record-setting WNBA career with the Las Vegas Aces.
Here’s some of the activations available for fans at A’One Night tonight. Free posters, T-shirts, a custom sign station and a special locker exhibit. pic.twitter.com/E4gq4CpUti
— Will Despart (@WillDespart) May 7, 2025
The Journey
In truth, the entire day was a testament to Wilson’s journey. The debut of her signature shoe isn’t the culmination of a journey that started in the home of Eva Wakes and Roscoe Wilson in the late 1990s. But it is a perfect point to stop and smell the A’One colored roses.
A hallmark of Wilson’s career and something she’s reflected on many times is the fact she has a statue built on the same campus that her grandmother was barred from walking on as a teen. Wilson’s grandparents, parents, and the countless teammates she’s bonded with over the years were as crucial to the makeup of her signature shoe as the pink threads and soles.
“It’s considered my night, because my name is on it, but it’s really not,” Wilson said. “I have to give all my glory to God, because he has really helped me be who I am and allowed me to share that with the world.
“It may come in the form of a shoe, it may come in the form of a leg sleeve, but he works within me to allow me to show my gift that he’s provided me with. So, this day may have my name on it, but at the end of the day, God gives all the glory of this day. I’m so appreciative of my teammates, my coaches, the fans, like they just kind of felt like a family reunion, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The Actual Game
Because it was a preseason game, Wilson played just 22 minutes, in which she tallied 14 points and six rebounds. The fourth quarter belonged to rookie Deja Kelly, who scored six of her team-high 15 points in the final 46 seconds of the game to push Las Vegas to an 85-84 win. Kelly is still fighting to earn a position on the Aces roster as an undrafted training camp invitee out of Oregon, but in a way it was a fitting ending to see one of Wilson’s “rooks” save A’One Night with some improbable late-game heroics.
“The shoe is going to be the shoe, and I’m so grateful for it, and I hope everyone go gets every single pair,” Wilson said. “But it’s so much deeper and more than that to me. I’m so grateful that I was able to share that with everyone today. My heart is full of joy, and I’m so glad that my little rookie got the win for us tonight, because that’s what it’s really all about.”
Sold Out
With the momentum Wilson has already established in her still-blossoming professional career, it’s no surprise her shoe release was a hit. The A’One “Pink A’ura” sold out in approximately three minutes. Not only that, the sneaker’s initial inventory was wiped before Nike even got the promotional tweet out. If you missed out Monday, however, there’s no need to fret. The Pink A’ura will officially hit in-person retailers on Thursday.
