Although there are reports that they have been dating since 2021, A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo’s relationship was publicly confirmed in 2025, after several subtle nods beforehand. And for Wilson, it is still something very personal to both of them, even though the relationship is now far more public than it used to be.
In a Vanity Fair cover story published on May 12, the Las Vegas Aces superstar opened up more about why they initially kept the public guessing before confirming they were together. “We just wanted to make sure that we were secure in ourselves, our relationship, and our foundation,” Wilson said. “People know more than they knew before, but it’s still a situation we hold really close to us only because this world is nasty.”
A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo had actually maintained a close friendship for several years, frequently showing up to support each other’s games as early as 2021. But it was during the 2024 Paris Olympics that speculation surrounding the two really exploded.
Specifically, both stars were spotted spending time together on off-days while representing Team USA and eventually winning gold medals. Whether their relationship had already become romantic at the time remained unclear, but either way, the two kept dropping hints that only further fueled speculation.
The most significant moments, however, came in January and February of 2025. TMZ photographed the pair on a dinner date in Beverly Hills in January. And shortly after that, Wilson subtly acknowledged the relationship during NBA All-Star Weekend by referring to Adebayo as her “NBA All-Star.” Then, what perhaps officially confirmed everything was when A’ja Wilson publicly referred to Adebayo as her boyfriend during her South Carolina Gamecocks jersey retirement ceremony and later again during a Good Morning America appearance.
Even now that their relationship is public knowledge, A’ja Wilson still maintains that there are limits to what she wants known publicly because, as she puts it, “the world is nasty.” But regardless of that privacy, the two still continue showing each other plenty of public support and affection.
Wilson especially spoke about how much joy she gets from seeing Adebayo succeed. “I do have so much happiness in watching him succeed because I see the hours he puts in,” she said. But at the same time, simply watching as a fan is difficult for her. “I try to watch his games as a fan, but I always end up watching as a player.”
That support is something both stars have consistently traded throughout the relationship. When Adebayo scored a career-high 83 points in March 2026, he credited Wilson courtside as his primary daily motivation. Adebayo also famously joined WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on court to present Wilson with her MVP trophy.
He also regularly wears her signature Nike A’One sneakers during NBA games. More recently, Adebayo was sitting courtside during the Las Vegas Aces’ dominant victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, enthusiastically supporting Wilson as the arena broadcast jokingly introduced him as “Mr. A’ja Wilson.”
Right now, the couple shares a home in Las Vegas. Both athletes have also hinted at wanting a long-term future together, with Wilson even referring to Adebayo as her “life partner.” She has also openly spoken about eventually wanting marriage and children. “I would love to just dive into being a wife, being a mother,” Wilson said. Adebayo himself has also made it clear that wedding bells will eventually ring when asked about their future together.
For now, though, the two continue balancing privacy, basketball, and public attention while remaining one of sports’ most talked-about couples.
A’ja Wilson Becomes the First Athlete to Cover Vanity Fair’s First-Ever Global Sports Issue
With the new Vanity Fair cover story, A’ja Wilson has added another historic milestone to an already staggering list of achievements. Wilson has become the first athlete to grace the cover of Vanity Fair’s first-ever Global Sports Issue.
For those unfamiliar with the weight of that achievement, Vanity Fair is one of the most influential magazines in the world. Published by Condé Nast, the American monthly is widely respected for its unique blend of glamorous celebrity profiles, high-fashion photography, and serious investigative journalism. They cover popular culture, current affairs, and high-profile human interest stories. Securing a Vanity Fair cover is a major status symbol across entertainment, sports, and politics.
As seen in the interviews that A’ja Wilson did, the magazine’s features revolves around deeply intimate and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names on the planet. And it also features cinematic portrait photography, historically led by legendary photographers like Annie Leibovitz.
A’ja Wilson is, however, not the first WNBA star to appear within Vanity Fair’s pages. Sabrina Ionescu, Sue Bird, and Brittney Griner have all previously featured inside the magazine through profiles, photo spreads, or interviews. But Wilson’s moment is categorically different.
She is the only WNBA player in history to land a solo Vanity Fair cover. And she did it on the occasion of the magazine’s very first Global Sports Issue. This makes her not just a cover star but a piece of history in her own right.
It’s also worth noting that Vanity Fair’s cultural footprint extends well beyond the printed page. The magazine is equally famous for hosting the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, widely regarded as the most prestigious and exclusive after-party connected to the Academy Awards. So A’ja Wilson as the face of this publication’s inaugural sports edition is a statement that goes far beyond basketball.
