August 9, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: A’ja Wilson’s shoe drop
By The Next
Wilson makes her presence known both on and off the basketball court
WNBA All-Star A’ja Wilson‘s basketball accolades are growing everyday, and her cultural influence is unmatched. On Friday’s episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, senior news and features editor for athletic and outdoor at Footwear News, Peter Verry, joins host Gigi Speer to discuss the unique nature of A’ja’s shoe drop, her charismatic presence on-site at a photoshoot, her spot in history as the next Black woman with a signature shoe and the GOATs that called her when the news dropped. Then, lead social media and influencing manager at Fanatics, Arden Franklyn, hops on to talk about A’ja’s style of play, Team USA in the Paris Olympics, and how she reminds him of hooping on a playground.
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Peter begins by discussing the unique aspects of Wilson’s upcoming sneaker.
“She said it’s a low top, which she typically doesn’t wear on the court. It’s very versatile… I was thinking something along the lines of, you know, a LeBron kind of build to it, but now it sounds totally different,” Peter said.
The conversation touches on the strategic timing of sneaker releases and Wilson’s blend of performance and lifestyle appeal in her designs, indicating a promising future for her line in the fashion and athletic markets.
Later, Arden discusses A’ja’s influence on the court as a top talent of this generation of hoopers.
“[A’ja] plays with a great passion for the game,” Arden said. “I think, more than anything, it’s her passion, you know, for A’ja to be the winner that she is. And to a lot of people, she’s the GOAT of her generation, and rightfully so. I mean, I’m one of those people who believe that she plays with great passion. And I think when you’re very passionate about what you do, everything takes care of itself.”
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