A'ja Wilson Recreates X-Men Character for Las Vegas Aces Media Day
Las Vegas Aces All-Star center A’ja Wilson has struck fear in WNBA opponents since entering the league as the Aces’ No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
That trend will continue into the 2026 season, but with a creative twist.
The Aces held their media day on Tuesday. Wilson showed up with a new red hairstyle, and her press conference began with a question about what inspired the change.
“Just something about changing my hair a little bit for media day, I think it brings me a little bit of joy that the season’s beginning,” Wilson said. “This [year], we kind of went with the Jean Grey-type of vibe from X-Men. She is a superhero that is pretty, pretty powerful. I kind of went with this to give you those vibes, and my [Nike signature] shoes match it.”
“Just so we’re clear here: In the comic books, Jean Grey wiped out entire galaxies and dominated the whole universe,” ESPN’s Myron Medcalf wrote on X in response to Wilson’s explanation. “So, good luck, everybody.”
Good luck, indeed.
Last year, Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to win WNBA MVP - her fourth career MVP, most of any player all time - WNBA Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year (the third of her career), and a WNBA title in a single season.
The Aces have won three of the past four championships. Las Vegas retained its dynastic core by re-signing Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young, so doubt the Aces’ ability to win their fourth in five years at your own peril. The Aces also managed to re-sign Jewell Loyd.
Wilson signed a three-year, fully guaranteed $5 million supermax contract, which stood as the richest contract in league history for two days before the Indiana Fever signed All-Star Aliyah Boston to a four-year, $6.3 million extension on April 17.
Wilson and the Aces will begin their title defense when they face the Phoenix Mercury, whom they swept in the 2025 WNBA Finals, in their regular-season opener on May 9.
Watch Wilson’s media day presser below.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 6:48 PM.