A'ja Wilson Joins Caitlin Clark, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan on Gatorade's Roster
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVMay 7, 2024
Gatorade's stable of basketball stars has grown to include a two-time WNBA MVP.
The company announced Tuesday it signed an endorsement deal with Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson.
Gatorade @Gatorade2x WNBA MVP<br>2x WNBA Champion<br>Finals MVP<br>2x DPOY<br>5x All-Star<br>Gold Medalist<br>Rookie of the Year<br>NCAA Champion<br><br>Her performance reigns supreme.<br>Welcome to the G Fam, <a href="https://twitter.com/_ajawilson22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ajawilson22</a> ⚡️ <a href="https://t.co/0IqL8zemZv">pic.twitter.com/0IqL8zemZv</a>
"Partnering with Gatorade is a dream come true," she said. "They've been fueling me on and off the court since I started out, and like I've said before — Gatorade helped me get my MVP, for sure."
Wilson joins the likes of NBA legend Michael Jordan, tennis legend Serena Williams, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
Jeff Kearney, Gatorade's head of sports marketing, added that the company is "thrilled" to bring the reigning WNBA Finals MVP into the fold.
"A'ja has already had an outstanding career full of many accomplishments, and we're excited to be fueling her as she furthers her impact within sport and beyond," he said.
Wilson is coming off her best year in the WNBA. She averaged 22.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year and earning first-team All-WNBA and All-Defensive honors.
The 6'4" forward only finished third in the MVP voting, though, and was even listed fourth on one ballot. That helped to spur a dominant playoff run. She put up 23.8 points on 55.4 percent shooting along with 11.8 boards, 1.4 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest as the Aces successfully defended their crown.
During Las Vegas' championship parade, Wilson offered a non-too-subtle shot at the MVP voters when she donned a custom shirt that included her vote shares on the back. She certainly got the last laugh on the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart, who topped the MVP balloting but was second-best in the Finals.
Between her performance on the court and her charismatic personality, the 27-year-old checks all of the boxes to be not just the Aces' cornerstone but one of the faces of the WNBA.
Those two factors also make her an ideal pitchwoman. Gatorade intends to begin using her in its marketing as early as this spring.