One of the WNBA’s biggest superstars, A’ja Wilson, has put the league further in the spotlight after signing a blockbuster new contract with Nike.
The three-time WNBA MVP has signed a six-year extension with the sportswear giant, according to the newspaper. ESPN.
The contract extension would mark one of the richest shoe deals for a female basketball player.
The Las Vegas Aces superstar announced in May that she would be launching a highly anticipated signature shoe with the sports company.
The shoe, which will be called ‘A’One’, is expected to hit shelves at Nike in the spring, along with the rest of her collection.
“It has been incredible to work with Nike on a dream to have my collection, and it is truly an honor to take this next step and become a Nike Signature Athlete,” Wilson had said in a statement.
WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson has signed a six-year contract with Nike
The three-time MVP had announced a signature shoe with the sportswear giant in May
“From my logo to the look of the shoe and the pieces throughout the collection, we made sure every detail was perfectly tailored to my game and style.”
Wilson will be the 13th WNBA athlete to have a signature shoe, joining fellow Nike athlete and New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu and league legend Breanna Stewart, who released her own shoes with Puma in 2022.
Wilson’s new deal is reportedly among the highest-paid shoe endorsement deals in the sport, along with the likes of Ionescu, WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and USC star Juju Watkins.
After being selected by Indiana with the first overall pick at this year’s WNBA Draft, Clark signed a controversial eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike.
However, throughout the 2024 season, fans were outraged by the lack of Caitlin Clark merchandise made by Nike, despite the Fever rookie focusing more on women’s basketball than ever before.
News of Wilson’s latest signing comes after another sensational season for the 28-year-old, who is in her seventh year in the league.
Wilson was crowned league MVP for the third time in September, adding to her two titles from 2020 and 2022.
The Las Vegas Aces superstar was crowned League MVP for the third time in September
After receiving a unanimous vote, Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper-Dyke as the second player to win the vote.
Wilson also joined an elite team that included Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the only players to win three MVP awards – the most in the league’s young history.
Her performance also placed the Aces franchise in fourth place for teams with the most MVP wins. The Los Angeles Sparks lead the league, followed by the Houston Comets and the Seattle Storm, with six, five and four MVPs, respectively.
She also claimed her second Olympic gold medal with Team USA in the summer in Paris, where she was also named MVP of the games.