WNBA Star A’ja Wilson Confirms Romance with NBA's Bam Adebayo — and Reveals His 'Super Dope' Sweet Gesture (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

A’ja Wilson attends the 2024 WSJ Innovators Awardon October 29, 2024 in New York City; Bam Adebayo at the 14th Annual Miami HEAT Gala at Kaseya Center on January 22, 2024.Photo:TheStewartofNY/WireImage; Megan Briggs/Getty

TheStewartofNY/WireImage; Megan Briggs/Getty

WNBA MVPA’ja Wilsonhas some sweet words to share about her valentine, Miami Heat starBam Adebayo.

Rumors of a romance between Wilson, 28, and Adebayo, 27, have been swirling since they were spotted spending time together just before the2024 Summer Olympicsin Paris, and severalcryptic posts on social mediahavepointed to their relationship, but the basketball stars have been keeping things private.

And although Wilson is still tightlipped about the relationship, the Las Vegas Aces star subtly confirmed that she and Adebayo are dating while revealing her Valentine’s Day plans. “My plans are here at NBA All-Star,” Wilson says after her appearance at the Chase Freedom’s Cashback Courts at NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

“My NBA All-Star is not here,” Wilson teases, referring to Adebayo, who did not make the 2025 All-Star teams.

Although they weren’t able to spend Valentine’s Day together, Wilson says Adebayo is “getting the rest he needs” during the All-Star break. “And that’s the best Valentine gift that I can truly give him, is just the rest.”

When asked if she and Adebayo are officially calling themselves each other’s Valentines, Wilson laughs and slyly says, “I mean…,” before the subject changed to her rumored beau wearing her new signature Nike shoe on the court during the Heat’s win over the Nets on Jan. 25.

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 7, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty

David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty

“It was super dope. It was a moment,” Wilson says of Adebayo wearing the A’One sneaker, retailing at Nike this spring.

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Wilson says Adebayo “really wanted to be at the forefront of pushing my shoes,” and since they’ve known each other as friends “for years,” she was thrilled to see him wearing them on the court. “If I have to put it out in the NBA, why not have someone like Bam Adebayo, who’s just a good person all around, to kind of showcase my shoes, so I was thankful he was able to wear it.”

Jean Catuffe/Getty

In September, Adebayo was honored with a key to the city of Miami-Dade County for winning a gold medal with Team USA in Paris, and Wilson was in attendance to support him.

During the ceremony, Miami-Dade mayor Daniella Levine Cava pointed out Wilson’s attendance, saying, “A’ja Wilson, she won gold in women’s basketball. I guess that has something to do with Bam and the Heat being here today,” perCBS.

And after Wilson became the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a single season, Adebayo slyly posted, “Hope everybody finds A’thousand reasons to smile on this lovely Sunday,“on X.

source: people.com