A’ja Wilson.
Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
A’ja Wilson opened up about her empowering tunnel walks during the WNBA season
The athlete explained how wearing heels is more than just a fashion statement
She will make her Met Gala debut in May and serve as a member on the star-studded Host Committee
A’ja Wilson is putting her best (fashion) foot forward.
The WNBA star, 29, opened up about the strength she feels through personal style as an athlete who routinely dresses in a basketball uniform and shared how wearing heels is especially empowering.
Wilson, who’s set a number of records and made league history since being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft, reflected on the evolution of her fashion choices when speaking with Vogue amid the increased attention on tunnel ‘fits in recent years.
A’ja Wilson.
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
“Tunnel ’fits changed our whole league,” she told the outlet in a feature published on Tuesday, March 24. “It brought a different audience and set of eyes to us,” she added, citing Beyoncé and Ciara as her style role models.
“There’s plenty of times where I’ve told my stylist, ‘I ain’t doing this. I need to pour into this scouting report before I put on a pair of heels,'” the power forward said, acknowledging that the new expectations can be exhausting at times.
Still, the four-time MVP made one thing clear.
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces.
Credit: Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty
“People should understand how powerful it is to walk into a game in heels, crush it, and put those heels back on. That is so powerful,” she said, adding, “That is women and I love that for us.”
In addition to her style choices, Wilson — who popularized the single-leg sleeve, which is now a staple in women’s basketball — has an interest in design and boasts an attention to detail. She also fancies beauty.
In fact, the three-time WNBA champion had a particular request when her team’s practice facility was being built in Vegas. Owner Mark Davis looked to his star player for input before getting started on the project, which opened in 2023.
A’ja Wilson.
Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
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“He was like, ‘What do you want the locker room to look like?’ I’m like, ‘Mirrors. It should look like a glam room. We need spots for our own treatments. We need everything,'” she told the outlet.
As Wilson eyes her ninth season in the WNBA, she’s got another big event on her list: the Met Gala. This year, the athlete was selected by host Anna Wintour to be a member of the Host Committee when the sartorial event returns to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 4.
Further, it will be a full-circle moment for the fashion-forward athlete who looks to Beyoncé as her style icon because the Cowboy Carter songstress will be a co-chair at the Met Gala, along with Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Wintour.
Wilson will make her Met Gala debut this year.
Read the original article on People