As a Nike signature athlete, A’ja Wilson has always shared a special bond with the brand and it’s clear the admiration is mutual. With her debut signature shoe set to hit the market in Spring 2025, the brand’s name will be seen often tagged along with the WNBA superstar. But before all that, the sports-athleisure mogul wanted to celebrate the 2x back-to-back champion and the reigning league MVP. Reciprocating the love, was Wilson.

Recently, Nike hosted the 28-year-old at their $1 billion headquarters, and, well, they couldn’t stop singing her praises. Monique Currie, Nike’s senior product line manager and W legend, shared a video of A’ja’s visit on Instagram and wrote, “A’ja is such a joy to have around. We’re lucky to have her!” 

At the same time, the Las Vegas Aces star shared her vision for the future of women’s sports. In the video posted by Currie, Wilson expressed her excitement about how women are being supported in the sports world today. 

“We want to sustain this energy and vibe going into women’s sports,” she said. “I’m so excited to be on board because this is the perfect time to do so.” Because she feels that people are currently investing in athletes and their foundations, and that’s how growth is driven. 

She added, “So when I look into the future, that is what I want to see.” Along with it, she spoke passionately about storytelling, which she sees as Nike’s superpower. “The best thing about Nike is the storytelling. Digging a little bit deeper into that, seeing how we fell in love with the sport,” she said, emphasizing how powerful storytelling really is. And we can’t agree more. 

And now, Wilson is solidifying her place among the brand’s elite roster of athletes with her signature collection, A’One. Back in May, she shared it on social media, sporting a sweatshirt with the phrase, “Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com” as the Las Vegas Aces star entered her alma mater for a pre-season showdown in South Carolina. While the Aces star is celebrating her new shoe, there’s one star who is still waiting for the big news. Or we can say her fandom is. 

A’ja Wilson’s shoe to launch in 2025 while Caitlin Clark fans push Nike for answers

Despite signing an eye-popping $28 million contract with Nike earlier this year, the Indiana Fever star and NCAA sensation has yet to see her own signature shoe hit the market. And her fans are not staying quiet. In fact, they’ve launched a petition demanding answers from Nike. 

One viral tweet put it bluntly: “If you’re not happy with how Nike has been treating Caitlin Clark and her signature shoe rollout—or lack thereof—sign this petition. We see you, @Nike.” The petition claims that Nike has been slow to promote the Iowa sensation despite her status and impact.

After a record-breaking college career, a stellar WNBA debut, and a Rookie of the Year title, fans feel Nike is missing a golden opportunity to celebrate her accomplishments. Although it’s true that she hasn’t gotten her signature shoes yet, we can’t say that Nike doesn’t recognize her talent.

The 2024 draftees’ NIL deal with the brand started back in college. But now, with her new contract in place, fans expected more from the $11M worth brand. The $28 million, eight-year deal is reportedly the richest sponsorship. Yet, as of now, there’s little information about Clark’s promised shoe.

The comparisons to A’ja Wilson’s smooth shoe rollout are inevitable, but it’s worth noting that both athletes represent different stages. But still, we can’t wait for Clark’s shoes to launch whenever the brand makes it happen. And we already know, they are going to be a hit. Until then, we do know how amazing Wilson’s vision is pairing out to be with Nike.