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Report: A'ja Wilson, Nike Agree to 6-Year Contract Extension After 3rd WNBA MVP

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVDecember 17, 2024

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA -  NOVEMBER 17:A'ja Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces, and former player at South Carolina, walks across the court after an NCAA women's basketball game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the East Carolina Lady Pirates at Colonial Life Arena on November 17, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina Gamecocks won 95-44. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson agreed to a six-year contract extension with Nike that's "one of the richest shoe deals" in women's basketball, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Alexa Philippou.

Boardroom's Nick DePaula first reported in May the two sides had extended their partnership, news that coincided with Nike announcing a signature shoe for Wilson that will drop next spring.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

A'ja Wilson's signature sneaker, Nike A'One, is coming in 2025 🔥🙌<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/_ajawilson22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ajawilson22</a>) <a href="https://t.co/qriVDHVMgK">pic.twitter.com/qriVDHVMgK</a>

Charania and Philippou added that Wilson's Nike deal will put her up there with the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu and USC's JuJu Watkins. Clark will reportedly get $28 million overall from her eight-year contract with the company.

The absence of a signature shoe deal for Wilson had been a source of consternation for many of her fans. It became harder and harder to understand why younger, less accomplished stars such as Ionescu and Clark received their own exclusive lines from Nike while one of the WNBA's best players wasn't afforded the same treatment.

Wilson's performance on the court in 2024 ensured the launch of her "A'One" sneaker will carry plenty of buzz.

The 28-year-old forward was the unanimous WNBA MVP after averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. She was also the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, putting together one of the single best seasons in league history.

WNBA players across the board will eventually see a major bump in pay. Negotiations between the league and players' union over a new collective bargaining agreement, one that will reflect the incoming media rights deal, are ongoing.

In the case of Wilson, her off-court earnings will be supplementing her WNBA salary in a big way moving forward.