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“I don’t see a hard launch in our future, honestly,” Wilson said of her unnamed partner in a Cosmopolitan interview in April 2025. “I know people are always like, ‘Please!!’ but I think we’re really at peace with where we are, and I’m so happy with where we are.”
2025 WNBA Finals – Game Four
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
However, that all changed when Wilson called Adebayo her “boyfriend” in an emotional speech at the South Carolina Gamecocks Hall of Fame ceremony this October. From that point on, the floodgates were truly open…but let’s be real, there were big cracks in that dam already.
Here’s everything we know about A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo’s relationship, with the most recent updates up top.
November 27, 2025: Wilson wears a flashy “13” necklace during her appearance on Hot Ones, which just so happens to be Adebayo’s jersey number.
November 19, 2025: Wilson sparks engagement rumors by wearing a very large rock on her left ring finger.
November 13, 2025: Wilson gushes about Adebayo on Good Morning America. “In my eyes, he’s perfect,” she says. “He’s perfect. He can do no wrong. Obviously he’s human but the support that he gives always, it’s incredible to think that I’ve kind of met my match.”
October 24, 2025: Adebayo jokes about the previous evening’s hard-launch during a Miami Heat press conference. “I don’t know where that came from,” he said of the “boyfriend” title. “I’m just the favorite Olympian. But great to be recognized behind the scenes, and just keep doing what I do behind the scenes.”
October 23, 2025: During an emotional South Carolina Gamecocks Hall of Fame speech, Wilson officially refers to Adebayo as her “boyfriend” while showing gratitude to the basketball player. “To my boyfriend, even though you went to Kentucky, and you went to that royal blue school, thank you for the constant support, always,” she says, per The New York Times’ Athletic. “You weren’t there for the young A’ja, but your support has been unwavering up to this point. So, thank you.”
October 10, 2025: Adebayo is on site when the Las Vegas Aces win the 2025 WNBA Championships against the Phoenix Mercury, marking Wilson’s third championship title. “Thank you for believing in me baby,” she says while hugging Adebayo, per video captured by ESPN.
September 21, 2024: Adebaya surprises Wilson with her record-breaking fourth WNBA MVP trophy.
July 18, 2025:Â The pair sits courtside during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025 – Kia WNBA Skills Challenge And WNBA STARRY 3-Point Contest
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
April 10, 2025: Wilson says she has “an amazing boyfriend who really is my safe space” during a cover interview with Cosmopolitan. “He’s truly a gift. He’s obviously in the same field, so we bounce off different things with one another to where it’s like, no, we’re not alone. He’s helped me through a lot and welcomed me to be who I’m going to be. I know he’s like, ‘I don’t know what A’ja I’m going to get today, but I’m blessed to be beside her.’”
She continues, “And it’s the same for me. When you can be your true self in front of someone, in front of your partner, that’s the purest form of love. At any point if I ever need a voice to hear or just a hug, he’s always there.”
When asked how long they’ve been together, she replies, “Publicly, not even a lot.”
February 18, 2025: When asked about her Valentine’s Day plans at the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, Wilson tells People that “my NBA All-Star is not here,” adding that he’s “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.”
While she wouldn’t answer if she and Adebaya are each other’s Valentines, she spoke a bit about his support after “years” of friendship. According to Wilson, Adebayo “really wanted to be at the forefront of pushing my shoes,” adding, “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.”
February 7, 2025: Adebayo wears a pair of Wilson’s signature A’One Nike sneakers during a game against the Brooklyn Nets. “I was blessed enough to have my shoe be on an NBA court—one of the biggest platforms in the world,” Wilson said when the topic was brought up a few days later, per one video shared on social media. “So I’m glad that people can love on it as much as I love on it.”
Miami Heat v Brooklyn Nets
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
February 2, 2025: Wilson gives Adebayo a subtle shoutout for attending her college jersey retirement ceremony in South Carolina. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without the love, support and sacrifices of so many people,” Wilson says in her speech. “What a blessing to have those most special to me courtside today, especially my favorite Olympian from out of town.”
January 14, 2025:Â TMZÂ shares photos of Wilson and Adebayo leaving a restaurant in Los Angeles, where the Miami Heat had played a game against the LA Clippers.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Not many power couples can say they have four Olympic gold medals between them, but WNBA and NBA stars A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo sure can.
In fact, rumors of this movie-coded basketball romance began at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they each took home their second gold medals while representing Team USA. Despite plenty of hints that the four-time WNBA MVP was dating the Miami Heat player, Wilson and Adebayo kept their relationship status private(ish) for over a year, preferring to feed speculation with less-than-subtle shows of support at games and on social media.
September 5, 2024: Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tries to blow up their spot while granting Miami Heat players a key to the city for their performance during the Paris Olympics. “A’ja Wilson, she won gold in women’s basketball,” Cava said, per CBS News. “I guess that has something to do with Bam and the Heat being here today.”
August 25, 2024: Fans think Adebayo sent an encouraging message to Wilson following a relatively poor shooting percentage during a game against the Chicago Sky. Following the game, Wilson had posted, “Could’ve built a house with my bricks today…”
Shortly after, Adebayo posts, “Keep building today [brick] by [brick]!!” Let’s just say, fans on X.com did not miss the reference.
August 11, 2024:Â At the Paris Olympics, Adebayo sits courtside at the women’s basketball finals between Team France and Team USA.
VIP Guests At Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 16
Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Pre-2024: In a February 2025 interview with People, Wilson says she and Adebayo were friends “for years.”
In fact, Adebayo attended a Las Vegas Aces game in July 2023, while Wilson has been photographed at multiple Miami Heat games prior to 2024.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by Glamour editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.As the internet argued over the “face of the league,” the women of the WNBA were coming together to fight for fair pay and a say in their future. These five athletes—and 2025 Glamour Women of the Year—represent the real draw of the WNBA: its players.
