South Carolina women's basketball great and WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson's new trademark shoe was unveiled by Nike on Saturday, marking the next step in the evolution of the shoe. In a short amount of time, criticism began to pour in.
Controversy Erupts Over A'ja Wilson's Logo Critique by Just Women's Sports
A video that has since been removed from X, which was once known as Twitter, included members of the firm Just Women's Sports making fun of Wilson's design in a public setting.
"It almost looks like a vertebrae," observed one of the people.
When Wilson addressed the problem on Tuesday evening, she did so on X, but she did not initially mention Just Women's Sports as the organization in question. Following her tweet, she provided a link to the video that had been removed.
A'ja Wilson's trademark logo is included with Nike.
Nike Unveils A'ja Wilson's Logo Design Process and Inspiration Ahead of 2025 Shoe Release
Nike disclosed the history of the logo design on Saturday, and the company acknowledged that Wilson was involved in the creative process throughout its entirety. Sketches indicating the various intricacies behind her logo were posted on the website for her cooperation with Nike.
"A’ja Wilson’s star-shaped signature logo is inspired by her distinctive style, incredible performance and unapologetic realness," Nike stated in their announcement. It just so happens that she always drew a star in the letter 'A' of her signature, which is emphasized in her logo in an energizing and humorous way. Solid and bold lines are incorporated into the base design of the logo, which is meant to represent the strength and support that she offers her team.
Descriptors such as "down to earth" and "90's style" were written over the sketch of the logo. These descriptors were accompanied by themes of diamonds, dancing, and glamour.
Starting in 2025, Wilson's shoes will be available for purchase.
Photo: wu yi/Unsplash