A'ja Wilson Biography: Height, Age, Boyfriend, College, Parents, Net Worth, Contract, Salary, Jersey, Shoes & Career Highlights

No one other than A’ja Wilson perhaps has been more impactful in women’s basketball. With all of her on-court talent and her personality, she has won the hearts of fans all over the world. This article covers all areas of the Las Vegas Aces player's career and life: her personal experiences, endorsements, financial achievements, and professional success.

A’ja Wilson Early Life

A’ja Wilson was born on August 8, 1996, in Columbia, South Carolina. Roscoe Wilson Jr. was a professional basketball player, and her father was in Europe playing his trade. A’ja said that growing up, she was influenced by her father’s basketball journey, though it didn’t always feel easy. Heathwood Hall teacher Nancy Sugar, who was one of her coaches and taught her at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, said she was one of the best overall students and athletes despite being one of only a few black students at the school. As a senior, she was named WBCA, Naismith, and Parade Magazine Player of the Year.

A’ja Wilson Personal Information

At the age of 28 years old, Wilson has an interesting profile to look at. Here are some of her important life milestones listed in the table below:

A'ja Wilson Personal Life

A'ja Wilson majored in Mass Communication during her time at the University of South Carolina, graduating in May 2018. She has also established the A'ja Wilson Foundation in 2019, which advocates against bullying and promotes awareness around dyslexia. She is also a member of the WNBA Social Justice Council. Wilson is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She also has multiple tattoos, including one that pays tribute to her late grandmother.

A’ja Wilson Boyfriend

Speaking of A'ja Wilson's boyfriend, she is not that publically vocal about her partner. However, there was a person that she once revealed she said, “Look I can’t tell you how many people I meet in a day, how many people I run into and talk to. But there’s just something about Josh. It’s his personality and who he is as a man that I just really enjoy. I enjoy having him as a boyfriend.” The person she was talking about here is Josh Cunningham, for whom she confessed in 2018.

He was a Dayton University basketball player. However, the relationship has not progressed that much and there is not any status about how far the couple has gone, or her current relationship status.

Since then, it has been rumored that Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo and A'ja Wilson are reportedly dating. This rumored relationship blossomed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when both Adebayo and Wilson met at the Team USA basketball camp. They have been spotted a number of times together since then, but the two have never confirmed their relationship status personally.

A'ja Wilson Parents and Family Background

A'ja Wilson's parents, Roscoe and Eva Wilson, have been supportive throughout her career. It was a bit rough on A’ja Wilson initially, and she thought that it was some kind of torture for her. However, as things progressed, A’ja came to realize the worth of her father. Once she said to ESPN, “The heaven part was that as I grew, I started to see my game change. I realized my dad was just being my coach. As I got older and basketball got more serious, I saw that ‘This man may know some things, A’ja, so I suggest you listen to him.'” She has an elder brother, Renaldo Wilson, who has also been a constant source of encouragement. Her father was a professional basketball player in Europe.

A'ja Wilson Career and Professional Journey

A’ja Wilson was part of the starting lineup for a long time. Still, the Las Vegas Aces don’t meddle with the starting position of Wilson on the roster, and she has kept delivering her roles. Here is a look at her WNBA career trajectory through the years.

WNBA Draft and Early Years

A'ja Wilson was drafted as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. She made her WNBA debut on May 21, 2018, scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 101-65 loss to the Connecticut Sun. However, Wilson bounced back with a career-high 35 points and 13 rebounds game in a 101-92 overtime victory against the Indiana Fever. She became the second rookie in league history to score 35 points and grab 10 rebounds. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was tied for third in the league in scoring. She led the Aces to a 9th place finish, with a 14-20 record.

Rise with the Las Vegas Aces

A'ja Wilson's rise with the Las Vegas Aces started in 2019, since she scored her then career-high 39-points in a win against the Indiana Fever. With her leading the way, the Aces went on to the WNBA semi-finals, where they lost in four games to the eventual 2019 WNBA champions Washington Mystics.

In 2020, A'ja Wilson led the Aces to become legitimate championship contenders. During the bubble at IMG Academy, Wilson led the team putting peak numbers when All-Star teammate Liz Cambage had to sit out due to health concerns. Wilson led the Vegas team to the semi-finals, defeating Connecticut Sun in five games to advance to the Finals. However, they fell short against the Seattle Storm, losing the WNBA Finals second time in franchise history. Wilson earned the league MVP honors for that season.

In 2022, A'ja Wilson would win her second MVP honors and the Defensive Player of the Year award after averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, leading the league with 17 double-doubles. Once again, Wilson led the Aces to another Finals appearance, which they were able to win against the Connecticut Sun. Thus, A'ja Wilson won her first ring with the Aces in 2022.

In 2023, Wilson repeated as a Defensive player of the year and led the league in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. Once again, she was able to win the WNBA chip with the Las Vegas Aces that very same year, where she earned the Finals MVP honors as well.

In 2024, Wilson became the first player to have at least 35+points, 10+rebounds, and 5+ steals in a single game in WNBA history. She also set the single season scoring record that very year. Though Wilson earned another MVP honor, the Aces failed to win a three-peat in that season.

USA Basketball and International Success

A'ja Wilson played for the Team USA women's basketball team in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. Wilson was part of the 12-player Team USA roster, which went on to win the gold medal in the tournament. She was also named to FIBA's All-Star Five team at the conclusion of the tournament.

In the 2024 Olympics, Wilson participated for Team USA alongside fellow Aces teammates Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young. Leading Team USA, Wilson and co. defeated France in the final to win the gold medal. Wilson was named MVP of the tournament and led Team USA in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, FG made, FT made, and efficiency. She was also named to FIBA's All-Star Five Team.

A’ja Wilson Contract and Salary Brekdown

A’ja Wilson's contract is still the one she signed in 2018 with the Las Vegas Aces. Following its completion, she renewed her contract in 2022, significantly increasing her earnings to $200,000, with additional incentives.

A’ja Wilson earns a great amount of money from off-court rather than the on-court. But it is the off-court performance that keeps A’ja Wilson in relevance.

The hike that A’ja Wilson experienced after 2022 was due to her rookie contract ending. The league teams were bound to sign him a smaller amount initially. But after she completed the rookie duration, she stormed the WNBA marketing scene and landed big deals from the team.

Even for a lower base salary than one could expect for a player like A’ja, the WNBA player was still delivering well. Here is a breakdown of Wilson’s salary as per Sportrac:

A’ja Wilson Net Worth in 2025

A’ja Wilson’s net worth is not recorded. She had accumulated $3 million in 2023 as net worth, according to Marca. However, taking about her last season’s endeavors that she pulled off on the court around the board, she is expected to gain $6 million as her current worth. Although it is not from the sole contribution of her WNBA salary. She had NIL deals in her college and along with that, she also landed deals with the brands as soon as she entered the WNBA league.

A'ja Wilson Jersey: Number, Popularity

A'ja Wilson wears No.22 jersey for the Las Vegas Aces. She has been wearing the number 22 all throughout her career and has made her jersey number as a part of her identity. Even her Instagram and X handles have the number 22, signifying to her jersey. A'ja's 22 is as iconic as Jordan's 23 and Kobe Bryant's 24. Her jerseys are available for buying at the WNBA and Las Vegas Aces' official merchandise stores. Considering A'ja Wilson's age, she still has a long way in her career to clinch many such deals.

A’ja Wilson Shoes: Endorsements & Signature Collection

A’ja Wilson, as said before, knows how to play with marketing. She is a modern-day athlete and uses social media to balance her athletic life with marketability. With the experience that she has landed through her college following and the WNBA fanbase, she knows how to utilize it through the lens of brands.

The Nike A'One is A'ja Wilson's first signature basketball shoe, launched in May 2025. It has Cushlon ST2 foam for comfort, a new traction pattern for agility, and a breathable mesh upper that is breathable. The shoe has design aspects such as pearl patterns for her grandmother and Celtic symbols for her parents. Her personal motto, "Weakness, weakness. We don't have time for that," is on the heel. The "Pink A'ura" hue reflects Wilson's presence. The A'One, which starts from $110, comes in adult and youth sizes, as well as with an apparel line that features A'Symmetric tights.

A’ja Wilson Achievements

It has not been a long time since A’ja Wilson has taken the reins of the WNBA. However, in this short of time, she has got the accolades that some of even seasoned players strive for. Here is a breakdown of her career achievements and highlights in the WNBA.

• 2x WNBA Champion (2022, 2023): She was a pillar of the Las Vegas Aces’ success.
• 3x WNBA MVP (2020, 2022, 2024): Recognized as the league’s most valuable player twice.
• 6x WNBA All-Star (2018,2019,2021-2024): Consistently among the league’s and fans’ top-notch favorites.
• WNBA All-Defensive Team (2021): Celebrated for her impact around the board and rebounding abilities. But she is also better at scoring around the paint.