May 6 wasn’t just another preseason game but it was A’One Night for the Las Vegas Aces, and A’ja Wilson made sure the night lived up to the name. Wilson dropped 14 points and was a dominant presence on both ends of the floor, helping the Aces edge past the Phoenix Mercury in a nail-biting (85-84) win.
But while her on-court performance turned heads, it was her heartfelt post on Threads that truly captured attention.
A’ja Wilson’s Heartfelt Message to Her Mentors
Wilson took to the social media platform shortly after the game to share an emotional message about two powerful figures in her basketball journey — Dawn Staley and Becky Hammon. Both were in the stands for A’One Night and both were rocking Wilson’s newly released Nike A’One signature sneakers, a visual tribute that visibly moved the two-time WNBA champion.
“This picture here..almost made ya girl cry! lol These two women have instilled so much power in me, I’m forever grateful fr! (I just know coaching me and my crazy ass teammates is/was A LOT ),” wrote Wilson on Threads.
View on Threads
Staley who is the head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, is more than just Wilson’s former coach, but she’s a lifelong mentor for her. Wilson played under Staley from 2014 to 2018, and during that time, she blossomed into one of the greatest college players of her generation.
With Staley’s coaching, Wilson took the Gamecocks to their first-ever NCAA title in 2017, got all the National Player of the Year awards in 2018 and ended her college stint as South Carolina’s Women’s all-time leading scorer with 2,389 points.
On the professional side, Hammon has been just as influential. Since taking over as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces in 2022, Hammon has helped Wilson elevate her game to even greater heights. Under Hammon Wilson has won back-to-back WNBA championships (2022 and 2023) and has twice been named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.
We can say that seeing both women — her past and present — in the stands on such a personal night, wearing shoes that carry her name, was a full-circle moment for Wilson.
Wilson’s A’One Shoes Entered the Market with a Bang
After two years of anticipation and careful design, Wilson’s signature shoes, the A’One, officially dropped on May 6—and they didn’t disappoint.
Priced at $110 for adults and $90 for kids, the A’One shoes sold out within just five minutes of their launch. While many were left empty-handed, Wilson quickly assured supporters that a restock is on the way, encouraging them to stay patient and persistent.
“If you missed the A’One, don’t worry. We’re dropping again on Thursday at Nike stores and other spots everywhere. I do this for the real ones, always,” said Wilson.
Not only were coaching legends like Staley and Hammon spotted wearing the shoes, but the entire Las Vegas Aces squad laced them up in support of their teammate. Moreover, the support even extended beyond the WNBA, as Miami Heat star and Wilson’s boyfriend Bam Adebayo was seen courtside rocking the A’One sneakers.