How WNBA Star A’ja Wilson Found Her Style

Summary

The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: How WNBA Star A’ja Wilson Found Her Style

Date: March 24, 2026
Hosts: Chloe Malle & Iggy Murillo
Guest: A’ja Wilson, WNBA All-Star

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Episode Overview

This episode welcomes WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson for a rich conversation about the evolution of her personal style, her journey in the WNBA, breaking into global fashion spaces, and what it means to be both an elite athlete and a modern style icon. Touching on themes of self-expression, confidence, and persistence, Wilson shares inside stories on everything from contract negotiations to the significance of a good manicure. The conversation is lively, relatable, and candid, offering new perspectives on what it means to thrive in sports, culture, and fashion.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. WNBA Negotiations & Leadership

• League Negotiations (03:03 – 05:05):
  • Discussion of the ongoing WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement and what it means for the future of women’s basketball.
    • A’ja Wilson: “We're negotiating. We're going to keep going. And I fully trust our players association and what they're doing.”
  • The legacy impact: fighting now so the next generation won’t have to (“The next generation, they won't have to fight for the things that we're still fighting for. And I think that's so key.” – 04:22)
  • The Vegas franchise as “the standard” in player treatment and amenities.

2. Evolution of WNBA & Player Visibility

• From Locker Rooms to Vogue (05:05 – 06:15):
  • Early league days required players to remove all personal items after each game; now locker rooms are designed with players' needs (like glam rooms, mirrors).
  • A’ja Wilson: “We are now being in spaces and rooms... I mean, look at me. I’m a basketball player sitting here in Vogue—like, this is huge.”
  • Visibility and normalization of athletes (especially women) in fields outside of sports.

3. Marketability, Challenges & Internet Trolls

• Facing Criticism (06:15 – 08:34):
  • Wilson addresses longstanding stereotypes around “marketability” and navigating online negativity.
    • A’ja Wilson: “People have called me not marketable for the longest…maybe I’m not in your market, but I'm definitely going to be in a market that I love, and I'm going to continue to flourish in that.”
  • Advice on handling trolls: “Not everyone deserves your energy. Sometimes you have to create those boundaries...” (07:37)
  • The importance of loving yourself and not changing for critics.

4. Personal Fashion Journey

• Early Fashion Memories (09:27 – 10:22):
  • Wilson’s first fashion love? Garments with her back out—even as a toddler.
    • A’ja Wilson: “My parents always laugh at me because at a young age, I would love things with my back out.”
• Finding Her Style (10:22 – 12:44):
  • College coach Dawn Staley teased her about her “Claire's” accessory phase.
  • Real style blossomed post-college, enabled by greater means and the increased importance of “tunnel walks”—what players wear before games.
  • Challenges of fit (“For me and my size… I can’t just pull something off a rack... sometimes I have to lean more into menswear.” – 12:01)

5. Signature Shoe (A2) Launch & Design (12:50 – 14:54):

• European Launch Tour (12:50 – 13:34):
  • First athlete to debut a signature shoe overseas.
  • A’ja Wilson: “That part of the world loves women’s basketball and they love me, obviously, and had to give them an opportunity to get that access.”
• Design Details (13:41 – 14:54):
  • Prioritizing comfort, durability, and personal touches (like a star and a tattoo with the message “you have to face setbacks in order to move forward”).
  • Signature pink color for the shoes; unique “player exclusive” editions referencing her favorite characters.

6. On Self-Expression, Fashion Icons, and Family Influence

• Expressing Identity (15:00 – 16:02, 23:35 – 24:41):
  • Shoes as a key mode of on-court self-expression.
  • Frequent collaboration with stylist Kasey; tunnel walk looks draw on vintage, 90s/2000s references, and blending feminine and masculine pieces.
• Family Input (24:50 – 25:59):
  • Mother remains a steady (and vocal) fashion critic, even texting feedback during press conferences.
  • A’ja Wilson: “My mom’s gonna be like, uh, wow.”

7. Met Gala, Celebrity, and Fashion Regrets (25:58 – 27:15):

• Wilson joins the year’s Met Gala host committee alongside Beyoncé:
  • A’ja Wilson: “I’m honestly so blessed to be part of the Met. It’s been a huge thing I’ve watched so now to be a part of it is amazing.”
• Mood board is still in progress, but she insists comfort is key for her ensemble.

8. Glam Routine & Tunnel Fits (22:27 – 24:41):

• On/off season nails:
  • Short, “serious” nails for basketball; longer, more designed nails for off-season.
  • A’ja Wilson: “I love my nails. I don’t know what it is about it. I just love it.”

9. Relationship & Personal Life

• Competitive Couple (16:44 – 18:54, 28:32 – 29:23):
  • Playful rivalry with boyfriend Bam (noted for recently scoring 83 points in a game, breaking NBA records).
  • Maintaining color-coded calendars for family scheduling (pink for A’ja, blue for Bam, etc.) (19:53 – 20:19).
  • “He’s my peace, he’s my safe space.” (19:07)
• TV and Hobbies (20:22 – 21:00, 28:32 – 29:23):
  • Currently binge-watching Scandal, Lincoln Lawyer, and Reasonable Doubt.
  • Loves Uno and escape rooms—competitive even in leisure (“I’m the queen of Uno.” – 28:35).

10. Film, Branding & Turning 30

• Voice Acting in “Goat” (29:28 – 30:52):
  • Voiced a crocodile in Steph Curry-produced animated film Goat, featuring a boy looking up to a WNBA player.
• Nike Campaign “A’ja Wilson on Top” (31:04 – 31:55):
  • Nike campaign features a play on the nursery rhyme “Miss Mary Mack,” with Wilson’s family, church, and community roots.
• Future Ambitions (32:12 – 32:44):
  • Potential “A’ja Wilson Show”—open to hosting but a little nervous.
• Turning 30 (32:41 – 33:09):
  • Possible “Mardi Gras”–themed celebration, but planning TBD during basketball season.

11. Advice & Reflections

• Money and Happiness (33:15 – 34:03):
  • Spent on gum surgery to perfect her smile: “It absolutely can buy happiness!”
• Being Greedy for the Wins (34:21 – 35:40):
  • A’ja Wilson: “I’m greedy for me. Whatever’s in my path, whatever’s in front of me and I can obtain it, I’m going to take it.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On owning her height and heels:
  • “Who cares if I’m the tallest in the room? I love that. I feel like—oh my god—it’s my God-given gift. So why not show it off?” (02:31)
• On criticism:
  • “Maybe I’m not in your market, but I’m definitely gonna be in a market that I love.” (06:22)
• On styling challenges:
  • “Sometimes I have to lean more into menswear... their clothes fit better. But I love it—I can make it more feminine when I throw on a heel.” (12:01)
• On her favorite tunnel fit designer:
  • “Jacquemus right now has me in a chokehold. I don’t know how, but it’s so… I love the fit, I love the feel.” (24:34)
• On family support:
  • “He’s my peace. He’s my safe space. If I’m really bored, he’ll be like, let’s just go do an escape room.” (19:07)
• On being greedy:
  • “I’m greedy for all the wins in life. Big, small… And hopefully I can get those things.” (34:33)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:03–05:05 : WNBA CBA negotiations & franchise standards
• 05:05–06:15 : Transformation in WNBA locker rooms & player visibility
• 06:15–08:34 : Navigating criticism and social media boundaries
• 09:27–10:22 : First fashion memories, family stories
• 12:50–14:54 : Signature A2 shoe drop and design process
• 15:00–16:02 : Shoe self-expression and player exclusives
• 19:53–20:19 : Color-coded calendar and relationship routines
• 22:27–24:41 : Glam and fashion routines, tunnel fit strategy
• 25:58–27:15 : Met Gala anticipation, celebrity encounters
• 28:32–29:23 : Competitive spirit in games and off-court fun
• 32:41–33:09 : Turning 30: celebration plans
• 34:33–35:40 : “Greedy for the wins:” A’ja’s life philosophy

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Final Takeaways

A’ja Wilson offers a shining example of what it means to be both an elite athlete and a multidimensional, authentic self. With humor and honesty, she reveals that style is about confidence, evolution, and self-love—on and off the court. Whether she’s designing signature sneakers, walking the Met Gala carpet, or just dominating a game of Uno, Wilson encourages women to “be greedy for the wins” and create space at every table—with great shoes, of course.

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Transcript

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

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[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Hi, I'm Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue's beauty editor at large. My husband and I talk a lot of ebay strategy together because it is something that we have bonded over since the beginning of our relationship. We've known each other for 20 years and we've been using ebay for even longer than that, both of us. He's very proud of his five star review, which I have the same. We're pretty popular. We have a really good reputation on ebay.

[Iggy Murillo]

Hi guys. Iggy Murillo here. I wanted to chime in and let you know that this interview with Asia Wilson was recorded on March 17 before the new CBA agreements with the WNBA and the players union were made. At the time of this current recording, they've reached a tentative deal that will result in major increases in players salaries and better benefit in the league. The final voting for the agreement is set to wrap up in the next few days. We're really excited for the new season and okay, let's get back to the show.

[Chloe Mel]

This is the run through. I'm Chloe Mel.

[Iggy Murillo]

And then I'm Iggy Murillo, global talent casting director at Vogue and a huge woman basketball fan.

[Chloe Mel]

And today we are with the fabulous Aja Wilson. Asia, thank you for being here.

[A'ja Wilson]

Thank you for having me. Happy to be here.

[Chloe Mel]

And I have to say this is Iggy's big moment. No one is. Iggy is our resident basketball Stan and Dalmatian dad. I feel like those are Iggy's too.

[Iggy Murillo]

So I'm about to be really shy.

[A'ja Wilson]

Cause it's like. No, don't be.

[Chloe Mel]

Tell us about this outfit. You look great.

[A'ja Wilson]

Thank you. I have my Thom Brown button down and some Nike jeans just to kind of do a mixture.

[Chloe Mel]

I didn't know Nike made jeans.

[A'ja Wilson]

Girl. Me either. They do know. They do.

[Chloe Mel]

Wow.

[A'ja Wilson]

I don't know. I think. Yeah, it's like really cute. Very comfortable. So y.

[Chloe Mel]

What are these nice white pumps now

[A'ja Wilson]

that I don't know. Okay. I've had these forever.

[Chloe Mel]

Are you scared to wear heels? Cause it makes you even taller or you embrace it?

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, I embrace it every single time. I'm pretty sure I had these shoes since I was in college. So, yeah, I've always loved heels. I've always loved to just, like, throw them on. Who cares if I'm the tallest in the room? I love that. I feel like, oh, my God.

[Chloe Mel]

I love that for you.

[A'ja Wilson]

My God given gift that he gave me. So why not show it up? It's true.

[Chloe Mel]

Absolutely true.

[Iggy Murillo]

So we're recording this episode on Tuesday, March 17, and over the weekend, the WNBA and the players had a long negotiation session over the weekend. The deadline for the agreement was yesterday, but there's still no deal, right?

[A'ja Wilson]

Crazy deadline. Yes.

[Iggy Murillo]

How are you feeling about how things are going?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, I mean, I feel like we're doing exactly what any booming business has done. It's negotiating. And I think I am blessed to be in a situation where I'm a part of a franchise that I feel like as soon as we went from San Antonio to Vegas, we then became the standard of housing. Players should be treated. And we have an amazing owner that is going to dial into us that are making sure that we are ready. And people ask, well, how do you guys win? Why do you guys win so much? It's that because we're handled with care, we're handled properly. And I think we're in this stage now where now the whole league is now trying to be handled properly by the players, are trying to be handled properly by the league. And is it going to look pretty? I hope so at the end. But right now it may look a little muddy, which is okay. It's a part of the business. But I think for us, we're just in a negotiation state of making sure that we get exactly what we've poured so into the game. And I'm glad that we're able to sit at tables and say, hey, we are here. We know what we deserve, and we're not leaving until we get that. And so we have an amazing executive committee that is crushing it in the boardrooms speaking for us, because, yes, it could be a time now on St. Patrick's Day, but this collective bargaining agreement is gonna go for many, many more St. Patrick's Days to come. Like, I mean, we're thinking about years. And so I think for us, it's like, it's not just thinking about the now, it's thinking about for years to come. The next generation, they won't have to fight for the things that we're still fighting for. And I think that's so key. So we're negotiating. We're going to keep going. And I fully trust our players association and what they're doing.

[Iggy Murillo]

And is that affecting you, how you're. I mean, the season is meant to start.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah. Yeah. Soon. Obviously, we all want to play. I do have a clock in soon, but I don't think it necessarily affects me because I'm still going to handle my business as normal as possible. But our biggest thing is, obviously, we want to play. We want our fans to watch us play. We. We've been waiting. The off season's always been fun, but then it gets to a point where I'm like, all right, let's play. And I think we're all getting there, but at the same time, you know, we're going to make sure our business is handled first. But I'm just going business as usual, not really changing up anything.

[Chloe Mel]

I want to know about how the league has changed and how you feel. Like, I was very interested in. When you started, you had to take your clothes out of the lockers at the end of every game, and now you're helping design the locker rooms. It's like, we need mirrors. We need a glam room. What else have you seen really shift?

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, I think just the demand of us. I think we are now being in spaces and rooms. I mean, look at me. I'm a basketball player. Sitting here in vogue like, this is huge. I think that is the biggest difference that I've learned is just like, how we are starting to expand more than just basketball players. We're diving into different aspects of our world at different points of our careers. And I. What, I'm the same age as the league. If you would've told us this about 20 years ago, everyone would be like, what do you mean? WNBA players to be crossing into different fields, like, it would be unheard of. But I think now we're starting to normalize that. No, we are powerful women. We love different things, but at the same time, we are incredible at what we do on this basketball court. And I think that is where I've seen the difference in the growth of our game, is that we are being seen in different spaces. And I love that for us because we deserve to have a voice in every room, to have a chair at every table and being us.

[Iggy Murillo]

Are there any challenges on that?

[A'ja Wilson]

I mean, obviously, yes, you're gonna have challenges. People don't want you at those tables. People don't want you in those rooms. And so they're gonna try they can to tear you down or make it seem like you aren't worthy enough. I mean, people have called me not marketable for the longest, and I'm like, oh, well, who are you? Maybe I'm not in your market, but I'm definitely gonna be in a market that I love, and I'm gonna continue to flourish in that. So, yeah, there are challenges in that, but I think the biggest thing and how I felt like, how I've approached it is just like, never changing who I am, always being who I am and being true in that, and whatever comes my way, I'm gonna love it. I'm gonna love on it, and I hope they can do the same for me. Obviously, it's challenges just being a woman, period, in this world, but, you know, you face those challenges head on, and you. And if you can love yourself, then it's nothing else really matters.

[Chloe Mel]

I know. I listened to a podcast where you were talking about how having a platform is so exciting and so such a privilege, but also just so daunting, and you're getting energies. I just loved good, bad, and ugly, literally. And that it's hard to focus on the good energy because you end up so focusing in on the negative stuff. I feel like I've been really struggling with that. It's like people write one bitchy article and I can't think about anything else. And what's your advice?

[A'ja Wilson]

Ooh, well, I'm a petty girl, so my advice is to clap back if you can, but on the other side of it, sometimes you just. Not everyone deserves your energy. And sometimes you have to create those boundaries for people that you may not even know. Trolls on the Internet, or people that's really close to you. I feel like everyone kind of deserves a boundary just to protect your. And that's how I've handled it. But like I said, I am petty. So if I do have some time, I will kind of remind people I'm not the one to mess with. But since you want to mess with me, let's get into it. But no, I think that is the best thing is out of 10 comments, 9 can be positive, but that one is going to be the one that really bothers you, and they don't deserve that energy at all. And I think I've learned that within the last couple of years. It's just I can't let randoms on social media bother my energy. Something that is. They will never matter in my life. So why give them the energy, I think that just fuels them to continue to be a troll.

[Chloe Mel]

So, yeah, just the Internet's mean.

[A'ja Wilson]

It is very mean. It's scary. It's a scary place. It's mean. But sometimes I can be mean, too.

[Chloe Mel]

So I usually dress like a librarian. And the Daily Mail is now talking about how I address, like, the assistant in the divorce. Prada. And there's been, like, four articles about it. And I love my sweater. And it's cerulean blue, but it's so pretty. It's Dries Van Noten.

[Iggy Murillo]

I did see when you were walking outside of a show with Anna, like, that sweater, and there was, like, a TikTok about it.

[Chloe Mel]

I know, but that's just. That's who I am. I'm sorry.

[A'ja Wilson]

Be that. No one's shaking you from that. Be that girl.

[Chloe Mel]

I know. My friend was like, the sweater's fine. You need to start wearing heels more. And I was like, my feet hurt. Anyway, I think that's very good advice. And now I want to switch gears into fashion. I want to know. We love to ask guests, what is your first fashion memory? Do you have, like, a formative memory from when you were a kid where you were like, ooh, I do like clothes. Ooh, I like the way this makes me feel.

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, it's crazy, because in my family, my parents always laugh at me because at a young age, I would love things with my back out. I don't know why I would love a good top with my back out. Like, I'm a toddler, and I'm like, my 1Z needs to be a back out. Oh, my God. So they always. It's funny, as my parents watch my fashion journey grow, they're always just like, you're just that young girl that loves her back out. And I'm like, well, now I like crops. Like, I'm moving.

[Chloe Mel]

I'm sorry, wait. What kind of onesie has no back?

[A'ja Wilson]

That's what I said.

[Iggy Murillo]

What are we talking about?

[A'ja Wilson]

I was just like, that was my idea. Like, I don't know why. I was just obsessed with just, like, the back out the crop. Like, anything cute and dainty. Asia was like, I need it. So that is always my first fashion memory. And it's crazy because I actually have a picture of me in a bathing suit, and I'm in the pool, and my bag's out in my bathing suit. So, yeah, it's been a journey, and I still love a good back out. I feel like now I have some muscles to really, like, show the definition. So it's cute. But, yes, I would have to say that's my first fashion memory.

[Iggy Murillo]

And then your college coach Dawn Staley,

[Chloe Mel]

Louis Vuitton dawn, absolutely said that you

[Iggy Murillo]

wore a lot of Claires in college. RIP Claire's, and then that you didn't find your style yet. So is this true? And then when did you think you found your sense of style?

[A'ja Wilson]

Ooh, yes. That is very, very true. I was. I don't know. My sense of style came with as my wallet got a little bit thicker. Honestly, a young girl was trying to push pennies together to make it work, just put something together. But now, obviously, when I get a little change in my pocket, I can now indulge in different closets and different collections. But, yeah, I would say it's been very recent that I really dove into the fashion world, honestly, because I feel like, for me and my size and it's very hard for me. I can't just go to pull something off a rack and be like, yes, let me wear it. So it's very hard to find styles that may work for me off the gate. It might have to be altered and may have to be custom a little bit, which is a lot of work. But I would say my sense of style now probably came around probably about four or five years ago. After Covid, I'm like, okay, let me try to start putting on some clothes here. But I think the evolution of our tongue became big then, too, because it allowed. It was another way for us to show our identity, show who we are before we get into the uniform. So I think once we started taking tonal walks, seriously, I think that's when I was like, all right, my closet has to start having some stuff in it, having some pieces.

[Chloe Mel]

How do you find pants? Cause I'm very short, so I have to have all my pants taken up. I imagine you have a different. Yeah, Iggy and I are.

[Iggy Murillo]

Well, I have to wear them, like, all the way to, like, my belly button in order to, like, not get them tailored.

[Chloe Mel]

Pretty sure you have an opposite, right?

[A'ja Wilson]

My stylist definitely does a great job of finding pants for me. We sometimes may have to take the hem out a little bit to make it a little longer. But, yeah, it is a struggle. And sometimes I have to lean more into menswear, which is crazy. I actually had a talk with Pharrell. We were in Paris for, I think, the NBA games, and he was talking about diving into menswear. And I'm like, sometimes I have to take that route because their clothes fit better I mean, I feel like when Bam watches this, he's gonna be like, is that my shirt? Absolutely. This is your shirt. But I love it. Like, I love the feel of it. And then I can kind of make it more feminine when it throw on a heel or just accessorize with different things. But, yeah, I've definitely had to lean more into menswear just for the cut of it, like the length of it. And then we kind of zhazed it up a little bit.

[Chloe Mel]

You just came back from Europe?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

Tell us, what's the itinerary? Where are you coming from? Where are you going?

[A'ja Wilson]

So I did four cities in six days. Wow. I did Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin. And I was there because I have an opportunity to showcase my second signature shoe. The A2 is actually dropping in America May 2nd. So A2 May 2nd.

[Chloe Mel]

Wait. Interesting. Why it drops in Europe first?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, we wanted to switch it up. I was actually the first athlete to ever showcase my shoe overseas for the first time. Interesting. And so, yeah, we went on a little tour and they got a love. They got this get the shoe early only because I feel like that part of the world loves women's basketball and they love me, obviously, and had to give them an opportunity to get that access. But now In America on May 2, everyone will have their opportunity to get the A2.

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

A2.

[Chloe Mel]

Maytoo.

[A'ja Wilson]

Hello. Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

First Saturday in May.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

Before the first Monday in May.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes, absolutely.

[Iggy Murillo]

Since we're speaking about your shoe, what was the process of designing it? And then also, how did you make it different than the A1?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, well, the process is always pretty hands on for me. I love to try to make it something for the consumer, but also very comfortable for myself and also durable for if you wanna play, if you're not on and off the court, however you wanna wear it. And so for me, my favorite color's pink. So I always say, like, we wanna paint the town pink. So when people wear my shoe, I want them to, like, even from a distance, be like, ooh, does she own? Like, that's my vibe. So I wanted to make sure that people were comfortable in it. We have little hidden gems in it. There's actually a star on the top of the shoe that kind of reminds people, like, be the star of your own show. And there's also a tattoo of mine in the tongue of the shoe. So everybody that wears the shoe literally has a piece of me inside the shoe.

[Chloe Mel]

Oh, wow.

[A'ja Wilson]

And it's a sign that says you have to face setbacks in order to Move forward. So I feel like that's something everyone can relate to. And I think that is probably the biggest difference from the one to the two. Has to be just comfortable, the feel of it.

[Chloe Mel]

A one's also pink.

[Iggy Murillo]

Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

Okay.

[A'ja Wilson]

So the initial color is gonna always be pink for me, because I feel like that's my favorite color. Why not?

[Chloe Mel]

You have a pink tambourine.

[A'ja Wilson]

To me, I do have a pink tamarind.

[Iggy Murillo]

And then last season, the hair was pink.

[A'ja Wilson]

And the hair was pink. Absolutely.

[Chloe Mel]

We see a theme.

[A'ja Wilson]

This is a theme. The pink is there.

[Chloe Mel]

So, yeah, my daughter would be very into this theme.

[A'ja Wilson]

Any shade of pink. You could see me in it. So, yeah, that's the two.

[Chloe Mel]

Interesting. I have to say, I don't go to that many basketball games, so it was a big deal that I went to the Nets game last night. But I was saying, I feel like the shoes is the one place the players can really express their personality on the. Like, they were all in their uniforms. Everything felt the same. And then you look down below the ankles, and it was, like, turquoise, green, and orange leopard print. It's so fun to see that. Do you always wear your pink shoes, or do you, like, change it up when you're playing?

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, I switch it up when I'm playing. I have my own edition of the shoe, like my pe, So I have, like, a Princess Tiana one.

[Chloe Mel]

What does PE mean?

[A'ja Wilson]

Player exclusive. So I have my own that I make, and I get about 10 that I kind of go through, and they're of my favorite things, like, Princess.

[Chloe Mel]

I'm sorry, you have a Tiana shoe?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, Princess Tiana. She's my favorite princess.

[Chloe Mel]

I love her so much.

[A'ja Wilson]

It has glitter. It's like pink, and I mean, yellow and green. So I kind of just match. I have a Susie Carmichael from Rugrats the 90s.

[Chloe Mel]

Oh, my God. So fun.

[A'ja Wilson]

So every P.E. is kind of like something that I love, like, growing up or something that I love, like, currently.

[Iggy Murillo]

We also love that your boyfriend Ben, wore your shoe, the A1s, at a game. Has he worn the A2s yet?

[A'ja Wilson]

Not yet. We have not made it in his size just yet. He's not that happy about me. He really wants to wear it. But if anyone could wear this shoe first, obviously, I would love for it to be him. He has been a vital piece of the process as well. Just when it comes to just whether I'm bouncing off ideas or just when he wears it, I'm like, all right, you're gonna go through 48 minutes. Like, if you can get through a shoe. I think I'm gonna be okay. So, yeah, we'll see if we can make him in his size pretty soon. But he's definitely, obviously, been a huge part of it.

[Iggy Murillo]

Have you made, like, custom Princess Tiana's ones for him?

[A'ja Wilson]

He's not gonna get the Princess Tiana ones.

[Chloe Mel]

He's gonna get Prince Naveen ones.

[A'ja Wilson]

Right? He is gonna get something special, I'm sure. But. But he can't get the Princess Tiamis. Those gotta be too.

[Chloe Mel]

I couldn't believe when we were doing our research for this, that Bam. Last week, he scored 83 points in a game. Oh, my God. Surpassing Kobe's record of 81, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain.

[A'ja Wilson]

Nice.

[Chloe Mel]

I love that you talked about hiding in the tunnel during the first half of the game. Cause you didn't want to throw it off. It reminded me, like, when I go to my daughter's ballet class, she gets totally distracted. So I'm, like, hiding behind so I can see her in the mirror.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

But tell me about that moment.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, I was actually just sitting in the car for a little bit. I was running a little late, but that's nothing new. I'm always running late. Cause my girl gets sidetracked. But I was running late. And then when I got there, I remember my mom, she was telling me, like, oh, my gosh. Bam scored the first four points. And I'm like, oh, he scored the first four. That's really good. Then by the time I get to the arena and, like, really sit down, I'm looking at the stat sheet, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, he has 19. Like, how did we get here?

[Chloe Mel]

Wow.

[A'ja Wilson]

And so I'm just like, well, I don't. And I always have a joke that he performs well when I'm running late. So I was like, okay, well, I don't wanna mess up anything. So I went to. I sat in the car. But then at the same time, if I'm not there and Bam knows I'm there, he'll be like, okay, where are you? Like, where have you been? So I was like, okay, I gotta go in. And then when I go in and I'm in the tunnel and I just hear his name, they're like, oh, Bam, out of bio. It's court again. And I'm like, okay, I can't go sit down. And I'm just, like, hiding in the tunnel just enough that I can see the Jumbotron. But then finally, I go sit down. And then he misses his first, like, the first Free throw. And I'm just like, oh, my gosh, it's me.

[Chloe Mel]

You jinxed him.

[A'ja Wilson]

But at the same, I know that's how the game goes, so I'm so glad that I stayed in my seat. And it was just an incredible moment to watch in history, but also just as his girlfriend, you know, as the supporter of, like, wow, I've seen all the work that you've been through. Now it's paying off. And I am so happy that he's able to have that moment in history because it's clearly has not been done in a long, long time. So, yeah, it's pretty cool to kind of see him flourish in that space.

[Iggy Murillo]

Well, does that motivate you to score 85 out of game?

[A'ja Wilson]

Absolutely. I had the high score in the house, and now that he's blew that out the water, now I'm like, all right, let me get right. Let me get back into the lab a little bit. So we'll see. We keep it very competitive, but cute.

[Chloe Mel]

I have to say, I was, like, gasped when I was reading Emma's profile view. And you said that bam loves you properly. I just love the word properly. And it's such a great call. I want to know examples of what that looks like.

[A'ja Wilson]

Ooh, I feel like he just does little things that I don't even have to speak on. Like, he'll just do just the smallest of things of, like, opening a car door when he feels like I'm overstimulating, or, like, having just a moment where he just kind of just holds my hand and knows if I'm getting too high when my anxiety's blowing out the water. He just knows how to just calm me down. He's my piece. He's my safe space. If I'm really bored, he'll be like, let's just go do an escape room. Like, he does the little things of like, oh, you knew I needed something to make my mind go like, thank you so much. But no, he's a. An amazing human being for sure.

[Chloe Mel]

I was obsessed with the fact that you guys have color coded calendars, because my family calendar is a very active place. Tell me about who's maintaining the calendar. Who's the scheduler?

[A'ja Wilson]

I am always maintaining the calendar.

[Chloe Mel]

What are different colors?

[A'ja Wilson]

So I'm obviously, I'm pink, he's blue, and anything team affiliated is probably, like, any yellows. Anything that's urgent that's, like, for me, like, when it comes to just things that I have to do that's in red so I can Pay attention to it. Then birthdays, obviously, are purple and different things like that. So we kind of just make sure if you see your color and the dates coming up.

[Chloe Mel]

You see something, say something.

[A'ja Wilson]

Let's pay attention to that.

[Chloe Mel]

I want to know what TV shows you guys are watching together right now.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, we're really into Scandal right now because we didn't watch it when it was popping, but now it's popping in our household. And we love us some Olivia Pope and some Jake Ballad and Fitz. Those are our. I feel like we're just best friends at this point. We love some Lincoln Lawyer. Okay, that's coming back. But we're trying, like, we're so hooked onto Scandal that we're like, okay, we're losing our grip on our other shows, but Lincoln Lawyer, Scandal, Reasonable Doubt, we just finished. We're waiting on another season for that, and that's where we are right now. But Scandal has us hooked like, it is our show.

[Chloe Mel]

I know. God, I haven't watched Scandal in a long time.

[A'ja Wilson]

See, my mom said the same thing, and I'm like, guys, you gotta rewatch it because we're watching it like it just came out.

[Chloe Mel]

The Run through will be back in a moment.

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

This episode of the Run through is brought to you by Bumble. Okay, so you've set up your Bumble profile. You filled in your prompts, and you've added your favorite pictures. But how do you make sure the people you're meeting are who they say they are? Are. Bumble's profile verification features are super quick and easy to use and give you the confidence that the people you're meeting are as authentic as you. It's just an extra helping hand so that you can feel more comfortable getting that first date into the diary. So download Bumble and verify your profile today.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Whenever I'm looking for things with ebay authenticity guarantee, it often ends up being sneakers. I'm not necessarily sneakerhood, but there are specific sneakers that I may have, like, fallen in love with and have been discontinued. And it's really nice to find them on ebay. And so it'll be just like a pair of platform Converse loafers. It will be a pair of vans, white slippers with, like, a very specific low toe. And so it's great with ebay to just be like, this is a real thing. It's in the size that you want, it's in the style that you want, and it's real.

[Chloe Mel]

I want to know about you being a glam girl. You called yourself that. Tell me about, like, what's the difference between on and off season nails?

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, my goodness. So these are. Yeah, these are my off season.

[Chloe Mel]

I mean, these are my listeners. These are sort of short, square. I would call them Easter yellow.

[Iggy Murillo]

They are.

[A'ja Wilson]

That's literally what I said.

[Chloe Mel]

Easter yellow nails.

[A'ja Wilson]

Easter yellow nails. Yes. These are super short Scoville type of. These are my. Like, I'm about to start hooping. Like, this is.

[Chloe Mel]

These are your serious business.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, these are like, let me lock in. But I still want to be cute for Easter coming up. And so my. My off season nails are a little bit longer by a little bit. Probably like a lot of it. They have a lot more designs to them. And I love my nails. Like, I don't know what it is about it. I just love it. I know everyone around me gets aggravating. Cause I love to, like, tap them and like, you can tell when I'm texting. But I just like, obviously I can't hoop in long nails. Cause God forbid I want to break a nail never. But yeah, that's really the difference. It's just the length and maybe just adding more design. I love a good French to, but I went all solid this time.

[Chloe Mel]

I love it.

[Iggy Murillo]

You mentioned that the tunnel fits became such a big thing. So, like, how do you and your stylist Casey think about it, like, ahead of the season?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah, well, we just really dive into just different things. Just trying different things. My biggest thing is just I want to be comfortable. And I think people don't give us enough credit. A lot of us WNBA players, we walk into those tones with heels on and we got to go play a game. So it's like, my feet are already numb and aching, but it's okay. But we really just dive into different things and different vibes. Whether it's. I love the late 90s, early 2000s type of vintage look. So we kind of switched up between like a Hillary Banks, but also just diving into like maybe a windbreaker suit, which is super cool. But sometimes I have developed this. I just need to go out there and play basketball. So I throw on a white T shirt and some gray sweatpants and we call it a day. But yeah, we kind of just. We switch it up a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. And I always would just call him probably every other home game, and I'm like, how am I feeling? What do we want to do? And we go from there. So it's a lot of different.

[Iggy Murillo]

Do you have, like, a favorite one that.

[A'ja Wilson]

Ooh, Jacquemus right now has me In a chokehold. I don't know how, but it's so. I love.

[Chloe Mel]

It's a pretty good chokehold to be in. Yeah.

[A'ja Wilson]

Like, I love the fit. I love the feel of every piece that I've worn of theirs. And so, yeah, right now, that's probably been my favorite.

[Chloe Mel]

Fashion regrets.

[A'ja Wilson]

Fashion regrets.

[Chloe Mel]

I love how you've mentioned that your mom is always critiquing, commenting on your style. Cuz very much same. I get a lot of feedback.

[A'ja Wilson]

I'm just like, mom, I. I'm okay. I'm, like, not even 30 yet. The skirt can be a little above the knee. Like, it's okay. I don't have to wear stockings.

[Iggy Murillo]

I remember there was one time that you guys dressed up. I don't know if there was a specific day. And you were on a press conference, and your mom, I think, was texting you while the press conference was going on, saying, like, what are you wearing?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes, I went with. It was like a 90s theme night. And so I had a jersey dress on. Cause I wear a jersey dress to pay, like, homage to all the WNBA legends. But I had a durag on, too. Cause I had to complete the look. Like, hello. But I guess the dude. And she texted me and was just. She sent me a picture of me in the press conference, and all she sent was, why? And I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry. And at the moment, I was getting a question, so I'm like, I couldn't listen to the question. But I'm also like, my mom's texting me. I look a mess. So, yeah, I had to kind of get myself together. But she's gonna always get me together, no matter the time or place. My mom's gonna be like, uh, wow.

[Iggy Murillo]

Well, speaking of style, you're on this year's Met Gala's host committee.

[Chloe Mel]

We are so excited.

[Iggy Murillo]

And then you're a huge be. She's also part of the committee. And you met her at. Was it last year? F1 in Las Vegas. Are you excited to reunite? And then any other celebrities that you're excited about?

[A'ja Wilson]

I mean, I'll be starstruck by Beyonce again, I think, probably. I don't know. I'm just honestly so blessed to just be a part of the Met. Like, it's been a huge thing that I've watched. So now to be a part of it is just amazing. And I'm super excited just to link back up with my girl. I'm talking, like, we were best friends. Sorry, Beyonce. Like, we just got A selfie together. And now I'm thinking that we're cool.

[Chloe Mel]

You're in the beehive.

[A'ja Wilson]

Right? Right. But I'm just like, super excited for just the opportunity, like, just to really see fashion on the biggest, biggest stage. In my eyes, being brought to life, seeing different pieces, seeing people's kind of personalities being brought out in their pieces, which I'm so excited to be a part of.

[Chloe Mel]

So, yeah, Clues for what you're wearing. Do you have a mood board?

[A'ja Wilson]

We're getting there. We're getting there. The mood board is coming. I think it's just has. Obviously I just wanted to be very cute, very elegant, but at the same time comfortable. Okay, I must be comfortable. So when you see me on the carpet, just know that I am comfortable in what I'm wearing.

[Chloe Mel]

The Run through will be back in just a moment.

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

This episode of the Run through is brought to you by Bump Bumble. A picture tells a thousand words, but there's no need to stress over choosing the right ones for your profile. Whether you feel your best self submitting a picture of yourself on a mountain or all dressed up, Bumble's personalized tips will help you choose the pictures that show the real you, attracting people who get who you are right from the start. So download the app or refresh your Bumble profile today.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Sometimes people ask me which search terms I use whenever I'm on ebay. So I search a lot of dead stock. That's a term that I throw in there a lot. Dead stock means that no one's ever worn it before, but it is like an archival piece or it's a vintage piece. And so that's a great thing to find on ebay. There's a ton of dead stock vintage, and it's just kind of, like, comforting to know that, like, you're the first person taking this, like, piece on its maiden voyage, even if it's 50 years old. Ebay offers this departure from the everyday that ends up feeling totally you.

[Chloe Mel]

What are you besides basketball? Are you competitive in.

[A'ja Wilson]

I'd say everything that I do, I'm pretty competitive in. Uno is probably. I'm the queen of uno, so I can. I mean, people kind of come to my table and I play a little bit just to show them. But Uno, I'm very. I'm competitive in everything. Even in skate rooms that we would do, you can still feel that, like, Bam and I are still trying to compete as to who can find the most clues. Even though we're supposed to be working as a team, we're still trying to skate.

[Chloe Mel]

Groups are hard.

[A'ja Wilson]

They're so hard, but they're legit, and I love them. I'm, like, addicted to them. It's kind of scary, but I love them.

[Chloe Mel]

Okay. But don't you find that it's hard to keep finding new ones because once you do it, you can't do one again, right?

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, there's plenty.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Okay.

[A'ja Wilson]

There's a lot. And there's like. I like the stories of them. Like, there's very different stories. So, yeah, it's been cool. But I'm pretty much competitive in everything that I do.

[Chloe Mel]

I want to hear about what it was like doing goat, because we just went and I loved it.

[A'ja Wilson]

Oh, yes.

[Chloe Mel]

It's so good. You play a tough, talking reptile. I don't really. Is it a lizard? What?

[A'ja Wilson]

She's a crocodile.

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

Yeah.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yeah. My girly. She was on the first team that, you know, the young goat is meeting, and she's in a sense of like, you don't belong in this world. Like, this is my world. And I personally love doing the movie, and I'm so grateful that Steph let me be a part of it, because I feel like.

[Chloe Mel]

Steph Curry is a producer of the Goat, which is an animated film about a small goat who makes good in basketball court.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes. And he's like, in a world of bigs where people may probably doubted him that he could ever be successful. But I think the best part about the movie that I loved was that you have a young boy looking up to a female athlete.

[Chloe Mel]

Yeah.

[A'ja Wilson]

Now, granted, she's a Jaguar and the voice of Gabrielle Union, but if you would turn it into, like, human, it would be literally a young boy looking up to a WNBA player. And I think that is amazing. And it goes to show, like, the change of times that we're in now that a movie like that is so successful. Like, people want to see it. And I think when I was watching, I was just like, oh, my God, this is amazing. Like, it's not. And you can tell that it's not just because she's like, oh, just a WNBA player. Like, no, because she's the greatest at the sport that he wants to compete in. And I think the storytelling is amazing. Everyone should go check it out.

[Iggy Murillo]

So all season long, your Nike campaign, Asia Wilson on top, which hit it broke, like, streaming numbers in my head. They want me to sing it, but I'm, like, super shy.

[A'ja Wilson]

Shout out to you.

[Iggy Murillo]

So who came up with the song?

[A'ja Wilson]

Ooh. Honestly, it was my Nike team. My Nike branding team is amazing. Like, they do a great job of figuring out who I am and what I want to present through the community, through the culture, and turning it into something that is relatable. And they did an amazing job of making the song kind of like a play on Miss Mary Mack. And the way we filmed it was. It was literally in my backyard at South Carolina. Like, went to my church that I grew up in. My parents, they were in it. Like one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia. Like, it was literally very homey and very cultured. And it had all the little things of a young black girl that had to grow up with the beads and the hair. The parents dressing you up overly for church. Like, little things. I love the hidden pieces in it. And so it was so fun to film. And yeah, the song is. Song is pretty catchy.

[Iggy Murillo]

Do fans sing to you?

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes. They still leave me comments underneath my Instagram. Just like, Asia Wilson's on top. I'm like, oh, it's still here.

[Iggy Murillo]

You can take her spot, spot, spot.

[A'ja Wilson]

And it's crazy. Cause now it's the mvp. One, two, three. And it's like, so now we have to change the song. Yeah.

[Iggy Murillo]

And then you're also. Your campaign is called the Asia Wilson show, which has a nice ring to it. Have you ever thought about, like, doing a host of a talk show?

[Chloe Mel]

You'd be great at that.

[A'ja Wilson]

See, everyone says that, but I don't know. I would be a little nervous. But I mean, it's pretty cool. So far, the Asia Wilson show has been great. We've been overseas, so we've been doing some things there. But I'm definitely would not. You never know with me. Honestly, it's been fun doing it along this journey, but we don't know, maybe in the future, maybe. This is like foreshadowing.

[Chloe Mel]

You're turning 30 this summer.

[A'ja Wilson]

I am 30. 30.

[Chloe Mel]

What is the plan? How are you celebrating?

[A'ja Wilson]

I don't know. We're gonna have to ask my boyfriend about that. Cause I think I have a game on my birthday, which is crazy. So pray for him. Cause he's gonna have to navigate a whole season at my birthday.

[Chloe Mel]

What would this. If you could do, like, a birthday theme, what would it be?

[A'ja Wilson]

I don't know. I'm something. I've been a vibe of, like, Mardi Gras. Like, I would love a good, like, New Orleans type of vibe, like, feel of that. So maybe a Mardi Gras theme. Who knows? Okay.

[Chloe Mel]

Bam. If you're listening.

[A'ja Wilson]

Dirty 30 Mardi Gras.

[Chloe Mel]

Yes.

[Iggy Murillo]

You said that. The worst advice you've gotten is that money came by your happiness. But what is the last thing that you splurged that made you happy?

[A'ja Wilson]

The last thing that I splurged on that really made me happy. Not gonna lie. My teeth. So growing up, I had braces, but I had like, small teeth. I had a gummy smile. So my gums were like. My ratio to gum to teeth was not giving what it needed to give. And so I had it. And then I had braces, which made it low key worse because my teeth were like the size of the bracket. So it gave like, girl, get it together. And so I spurged on actually getting like gum surgery, gum removal surgery for my teeth. So it allowed my teeth to actually have a good ratio with my teeth. Go.

[Chloe Mel]

Oh, my God.

[A'ja Wilson]

So, yeah, that is.

[Chloe Mel]

I'm like, that is a happy answer. But, yeah, you. You fixed it?

[A'ja Wilson]

I fixed it and it looks good. Thank you. So, yeah, we. I think that is something that I'm like, that really did it. Like, it absolutely can buy happiness. What? I'm happy.

[Chloe Mel]

I know. I just, I love that it was like, what's the worst advice you got? Money can't buy you happiness. It's like, oh, yes, it can buy

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

you a lot of things.

[A'ja Wilson]

It can buy you a lot of things.

[Chloe Mel]

And then. Last question. I love that you said once that you're never satisfied, you're always pushing for more, and that you always tell people, be greedy. What are you greedy for right now?

[A'ja Wilson]

I am greedy for. Ooh. I'm honestly just greedy for me. Like, I. Whatever's in my path, whatever's in front of me and I can obtain it, I'm going to take it. Like, I want to take it. I want to uplift everyone around me. Obviously, as we're taking it, I wanna take it together, but I'm not. I'm tired of having to be like, okay, let wait for the next one. Or maybe I should give it a. Maybe if it circles back and it's for me, it'll be for me. Like, no, I feel like whatever's in front of me, hopefully that I can tackle it at my own pace and giving myself some grace in between that. But I'm greedy for all the wins in life. Big, small, like, I'm greedy for that and hopefully I can get those things. And obviously I'm loving bringing everyone alongside me a part of this journey. Like having the opportunity to have my parents retired and get to share moments with me. Like, I'm. I'm enjoying that. So being greedy for them like, come on, we're going on this trip. You guys gotta go to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Berlin with me. You guys are going to the Olympics in Paris with me a couple years ago. So, like, those little things is what I'm greedy for. I'm greedy for the wins.

[Chloe Mel]

We love that. We should all be greedy for the wins.

[A'ja Wilson]

Yes.

[Chloe Mel]

Asia, thank you so much for coming on the Run Through. We loved having. Thanks, Iggy.

[Iggy Murillo]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Chloe Mel]

That's it for the Run Through. The run through is produced by chelsea daniel, alex depalma and alex john burns, with help from emily elias. It's engineered by pran bandy and james yost. It is mixed by mike kutch.

[Sponsor/Ad Narrator]

This episode of the Run through is brought to you by Bumble. Okay, so you've set up your Bumble profile, you filled in your prompts, and you've added your favorite pictures. But how do you make sure the people you're meeting are who they say they are? Bumble's profile verification features are super quick and easy to use and give you the confidence that the people you're meeting are as authentic and as you. It's just an extra helping hand so that you can feel more comfortable getting that first date into the diary. So download Bumble and verify your profile today.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

My first job in New York City was as a trend forecaster. I do trend forecasting still, and ebay is a part of that because I'll search for things that I'm seeing around, and it will end up directing me in places that I could have never anticipated. And one of the trends that I'm seeing these days is crafting things that are made by hand. Hand. And so playing with clothes and accessories to create something kind of distinctive for your wardrobe is a great way of doing it. And getting supplies off of ebay is my favorite thing for it. I'll get, like, maybe a pair of slippers that I'm wearing right now and then cut them in a specific way, and then they're totally my own. And I feel like it's a great resource to create your own trends because then you can both feel like you're bringing something back to life. You're already, like, pulling it out of the ebay archives. And then you're also adjusting it so that it really expresses your own style, which is something that, you know, people really want right now whenever they are feeling, like, so algorithmic about the style that's being pushed to them. That doesn't have to be perfect. Things can have rough edges, and that sometimes makes them feel more special

[A'ja Wilson]

from prx.