Las Vegas AcesA'ja Wilson (22) in action, posts up vs Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark (22) at Gainbridge Arena

Nike has it spot on with A’ja Wilson decision at Caitlin Clark’s expense

Nike made the right choice in making sure all-time great A’ja Wilson received a signature sneaker before Caitlin Clark, despite the two being transcendent talents in their own right

Nike’s decision to give Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson her own signature sneaker before Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark speaks volumes about how they view the two transcendent talents.

In May 2024, Nike announced that Wilson’s first signature sneaker dubbed the “A’One” will be released in 2025. Wilson is among a select number of WNBA stars to have a sneaker with Nike, joining Diana Taurasi, Elena Delle Donne, Lisa Leslie, Sabrina Ionescu, and her former coach Dawn Staley.

Clark is set to join that list with a signature sneaker of her own at some point, after signing a deal with Nike before her rookie season. And while fans might be anticipating Clark’s signature sneaker, the sportswear giant made the right call in prioritizing Wilson over the 22-year-old.

Since entering the league, Wilson has been a force to be reckoned with. The 6-foot-4 forward was selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft and since then, Wilson has cemented herself as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.

Wilson is a three-time WNBA MVP, a two-time WNBA champion, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a WNBA Finals MVP. She also is a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, a three-time All-WNBA Second Team selection, a four-time All-Defensive team selection – three times on the First Team and once on the Second – and the 2024 scoring champion, among with many other accolades.

Considering Wilson’s pedigree, it stands to reason that Nike would allocate resources to getting her a sneaker first. Some could argue that Nike waiting this long to give Wilson a sneaker was long overdue, especially as her profile continued to rise over the years.

A'ja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team warms up during the USA Women's National Team practice at Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France
A’ja Wilson is the next Nike athlete to receive a signature sneaker at some point ( 
Image:
Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)


Wilson getting a sneaker before Clark shouldn’t be seen as a sign of disrespect, however. The 28-year-old already is in the discussion as one of the greatest basketball players of all time thanks to the historic season she had for the Aces.

That said, Clark’s exploits as a rookie are not to be overlooked as the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year is on the path to superstardom like Wilson. Clark broke numerous league records and also set new rookie records, showcasing how she is a generational talent.

On the business side, Clark certainly is one of the biggest stars in the league, and it made sense for Nike to capitalize on her profile. It was also reported that Clark snubbed offers from Puma, Adidas, and Under Armour to accept a $28 million deal with Nike.