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Business Insider
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
This new shoe just scored Nike a much-needed win
Investing in women's sports has been a priority for Nike lately, and basketball star A'ja Wilson's new A'One sneaker sold out in under five minutes in Tuesday's online release. It's a project that Wilson said took over two years to come into fruition. As all eyes are on Nike to make good on its promises for a comeback, it's a win for the sports apparel giant. Its decision to use women's sports to reach its goal is "a savvy one" as the WNBA enters the global stage with surging viewership, Rachel Wolff, analyst at BI sister company EMARKETER, said. "The way Nike has approached the launch is also smart: By using limited releases — a rarity for its performance sneakers — the brand has been able to build buzz and increase the product's desirability ahead of its official debut," Wolff said. During the second-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call, CEO Elliott Hill shouted out Nike's "gender offense" by tapping some of the WNBA's biggest stars, including Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and Caitlin Clark. So far, its investment is showing returns, with high single-digit growth in women's training apparel for the same quarter. However, the comeback is far from complete. Last quarter's revenues were $11.3 billion, down 9% from the previous year on a reported basis. Repairing relationships with its retail partners, like Foot Locker and Dick's Sporting Goods, is another smart play by Nike after a "disastrous" direct-to-consumer strategy that started in 2018, Wolff said. Checks conducted by BMO Capital Markets analysts found that the first online drop of the A'One in the Pink A'ura color way had a "very limited supply," with key retailers selling out on Thursday. The OG Pearl iteration is set to release on May 15. "While scale is obviously necessary to move any Nike needle (particularly as Nike reduces reliance on classics), we see these data points as encouraging," analyst Simeon Siegel said in a Friday note on Nike's latest sneaker launches. It's Wilson's first signature shoe with Nike. She appeared in the company's viral "So Win" Super Bowl commercial featuring only female athletes in February. A clip of her spinning a basketball on one nail was particularly popular. "We designed the Nike A'One so that when girls lace up, they channel A'ja's encouragement through her footwear, knowing they can be like her one day," Ben Nethongkome, lead designer for the A'One footwear, said in a statement ahead of the launch.
Business Insider
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
This new shoe just scored Nike a much-needed win
Nike's long-awaited collaboration with the WNBA's reigning MVP paid off pretty much instantly. Investing in women's sports has been a priority for Nike lately, and basketball star A'ja Wilson's new A'One sneaker sold out in under five minutes in Tuesday's online release. It's a project that Wilson said took over two years to come into fruition. As all eyes are on Nike to make good on its promises for a comeback, it's a win for the sports apparel giant. Its decision to use women's sports to reach its goal is "a savvy one" as the WNBA enters the global stage with surging viewership, Rachel Wolff, analyst at BI sister company EMARKETER, said. "The way Nike has approached the launch is also smart: By using limited releases — a rarity for its performance sneakers — the brand has been able to build buzz and increase the product's desirability ahead of its official debut," Wolff said. During the second-quarter fiscal year 2025 earnings call, CEO Elliott Hill shouted out Nike's "gender offense" by tapping some of the WNBA's biggest stars, including Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and Caitlin Clark. So far, its investment is showing returns, with high single-digit growth in women's training apparel for the same quarter. However, the comeback is far from complete. Last quarter's revenues were $11.3 billion, down 9% from the previous year on a reported basis. Repairing relationships with its retail partners, like Foot Locker and Dick's Sporting Goods, is another smart play by Nike after a "disastrous" direct-to-consumer strategy that started in 2018, Wolff said. Checks conducted by BMO Capital Markets analysts found that the first online drop of the A'One in the Pink A'ura color way had a "very limited supply," with key retailers selling out on Thursday. The OG Pearl iteration is set to release on May 15. "While scale is obviously necessary to move any Nike needle (particularly as Nike reduces reliance on classics), we see these data points as encouraging," analyst Simeon Siegel said in a Friday note on Nike's latest sneaker launches. It's Wilson's first signature shoe with Nike. She appeared in the company's viral "So Win" Super Bowl commercial featuring only female athletes in February. A clip of her spinning a basketball on one nail was particularly popular. "We designed the Nike A'One so that when girls lace up, they channel A'ja's encouragement through her footwear, knowing they can be like her one day," Ben Nethongkome, lead designer for the A'One footwear, said in a statement ahead of the launch.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Aces star A'ja Wilson's signature A'One Nike shoes sell out in under 5 minutes
Aces star A'ja Wilson's signature A'One Nike shoes sell out in under 5 minutes Show Caption Hide Caption New Las Vegas Aces piece Jewell Loyd and her expectations this year Sports Seriously's Mackenzie Salmon catches up with new Ace Jewell Loyd and what we can expect from her and Vegas this upcoming season. Sports Seriously The first signature shoe for Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson by Nike wasn't around very long as the A'Ones hit the market on Tuesday and sold out in less than five minutes. When the shoes went on sale at 10 a.m., it didn't take long for the website to say the in-demand kicks were out of stock. As of Wednesday morning, the link for the shoe on Nike's website still says "the product you are looking for is no longer available." Wilson said on social media that the pink shoes, which retail for $110 for adults and $90 for kids, will be available again later in the week. 'This morning was wild,' she wrote on Instagram. "If you missed the A'One, don't worry. We're dropping again Thursday at Nike stores and other spots everywhere. I do this for the real ones, always.' The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team wore the pink A'Ones during their run to the Final Four. "I couldn't believe it. Even seeing them when I was surprising them, some of them already had the shoes on, and I'm like, "All right, well, the cat's out the bag." It's extremely just joyful for me to share this experience," Wilson told For the Win. "To see young girls, to see teams, to see boys ― everybody in between ― wearing my shoe, particularly on a big stage like the Final Four when they didn't have to." The A'One Blue Indigo Girl and white OG Pearl shoes will be available on May 15 Wilson, who is the 13th woman to have a signature shoe, is only 28 years old but has won the WNBA MVP three times, Defensive Player of the Year twice, and led the Aces to two championships. The Aces begin their season on May 17 against the champion New York Liberty
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aces star A'ja Wilson's signature A'One sneaks sold out in minutes: Here's when they restock
Design, Pricing, and Upcoming Drops Wilson Reflects on the Launch A Career of Dominance A'ja Wilson's first signature sneaker with Nike, the A'One, sold out within minutes of its release on Tuesday morning, underscoring the WNBA star's immense popularity and cultural impact. The limited edition shoes dropped at 10 a.m. ET and were marked "out of stock" on Nike's website by approximately 10:05 release marks a major milestone for Wilson, who becomes one of a select group of WNBA athletes, including Sheryl Swoopes , Rebecca Lobo, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart, to receive a signature shoe line from a major debut version of the A'One features an all-pink colorway and is priced at $110 for adults and $90 for grade-school sizes. The line also includes matching apparel such as T-shirts, hoodies, and leg sleeves. Due to overwhelming demand, resellers have already listed the sneakers for over $230 on secondary will restock the pink colorway in stores and online this Thursday. Two additional colorways, Indigo Girl (blue) and OG Pearl (white), are set for release on May the swift sellout, Wilson took to Instagram to express her excitement.'This morning was wild,' she wrote on her Instagram story. 'If you missed the A'One, don't worry. We're dropping again Thursday at Nike stores and other spots everywhere. I do this for the real ones, always.'Speaking during Las Vegas Aces training camp, Wilson reflected on the significance of the moment:'It's special,' she said. 'A long two years of hard work, just about, coming to life and everyone can enjoy it. It's gonna be a great day.'Wilson, 28, was drafted first overall by the Aces in 2018 and has since established herself as a dominant force in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and led the league in scoring in 2024. She's also topped the league in blocks four times and helped lead the Aces to two WNBA Wilson and the Aces prepare for a fresh championship run, fans and sneakerheads alike are already marking their calendars for the next drop.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aces star A'ja Wilson's 1st signature Nike shoe sells out in minutes
A'ja Wilson's first signature sneaker sold out within the first few minutes it was available, proving the WNBA star's ever-growing popularity. After a limited number of the Nike A'Ones were released at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday, the out-of-stock banner went up on the brand's website around 10:05 a.m. Advertisement Anticipation over the custom shoes began in May 2024, when Nike announced the Las Vegas Aces center would get a signature sneaker. The two-time WNBA champion joins the likes of Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart as female basketball players with signature shoes. Wilson's all-pink footwear sells for $110 for adults and $90 for grade-school sizing. The line also includes T-shirts, hoodies and leg sleeves. The pink colorway shoes will be available in stores and online again on Thursday. With the high demand for the A'Ones, several websites have priced them at over $230. On May 17, the blue Indigo Girl and white OG Pearl colorways will be available online and in stores. Advertisement After the first batch of A'Ones were cleared out quickly, Wilson wrote on her Instagram story that "this morning was wild." "If you missed the A'One, don't worry," she wrote. "We're dropping again Thursday at Nike stores and other spots everywhere. I do this for the real ones, always." The 28-year-old was drafted by the Aces with the first overall pick in 2018 and has since dominated the WNBA. Wilson earned WNBA MVP three times, Defensive Player of the Year twice and led the league in scoring in 2024 and in blocks on four separate occasions. Wilson and the Aces are gearing up for a push at another WNBA title after the New York Liberty derailed their three-peat hopes last year in the semifinals. New York went on to win the championship after beating the Minnesota Lynx in five games. Advertisement When asked about her shoe release during Aces training camp, Wilson said, "It's special." "A long two years of hard work, just about, coming to life and everyone can enjoy it," she added. "It's gonna be a great day."
