M’V5

Over the past 24 hours, one topic has stood out—A’ja Wilson’s portfolio—and some of the conversation around it has been confusing to watch. We’re talking about a player who, in just her second season, was second in jersey sales behind only Elena Delle Donne. A’ja played in the 2019 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, became Mountain Dew’s first WNBA ambassador, and was the first female athlete to sign with Ruffles. Forbes recognized her on their 30 Under 30 sports list in 2020. By late 2022, her first Nike signature shoe was officially announced—and it was only the beginning. She would go on to land more endorsements, grace magazine covers, and appear in commercials, including the 2022 State Farm ad. But A’ja Wilson isn’t just a marketable athlete. She’s a winner. Her DNA helped put Las Vegas on the map long before anyone started talking about “new awareness.” She led the Aces to their first franchise championship, then helped the city lead the league in attendance in 2023. By 2024, Las Vegas became the first WNBA team to sell out season tickets. And let’s not forget that her winning ways began at South Carolina, where she claimed a national championship and instantly boosted Gamecock attendance. Yes, the media hasn’t always done justice to A’ja’s story—and yes, WNBA coverage still struggles as whole—but her rise was unstoppable. She had already won her second WNBA MVP in 2022 and claimed back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. Her portfolio, her reach, and her impact weren’t waiting for “new eyes” to appear—they were growing because she earned them. The idea that this so-called new awareness is responsible for boosting Wilson’s portfolio? Let’s be real. Those new eyes didn’t sell out her highly anticipated signature shoe. They didn’t fill Michelob ULTRA Arena. A majority of those new eyes on social media are actually some of her harshest critics, the same way they are currently treating the other talented athletes the media did not push onto them. The marketability, the championships, the MVPs, the dominance. These were always A’ja Wilson’s. Fans weren’t going to suddenly notice her because of someone else; they were already following her for a reason. Her merit, her legacy, her accomplishments—that’s what built her. ✨