A'ja Wilson Explains Why She Keeps Bam Adebayo Relationship Private
A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo don’t hide their love, but they are fiercely protective of it.
Wilson, a star center for the Las Vegas Aces, graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s Global Sports Issue, and she discussed her relationship with the Miami Heat All-Star center in the accompanying cover story by Erin Vanderhoof.
“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 that we hold really close to us only because this world is nasty.”
Adebayo and Wilson first sparked romantic rumors at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they each won a gold medal. They never hard-launched, but they slowly began appearing together in public more and more frequently throughout 2025.
Last September, Adebayo surprised Wilson with her WNBA-record fourth WNBA MVP. They were caught hugging on video after Wilson and the Aces won their third championship in four years last October. In March, Wilson sat courtside when Adebayo scored 83 points in a single game and accompanied him at his press conference afterward. Most recently, they attended the 2026 Met Gala, and Adebayo pranked Wilson in a newly aired episode of TBS’ “Foul Play.”
“I would love to just dive into being a wife, being a mother,” Wilson told Vanity Fair. "Being an amazing daughter to my parents, that is always my number one goal. […] My mom's like, ‘Well, I want to go to cities I've never been to.’ I’m like, ‘Well, we got a long list to do, girl.'”
Wilson won’t have much free time - as if she had any before - over the next four months, as the WNBA tipped off its 30th season last weekend.
The Aces lost their season opener to the Phoenix Mercury, 99-66, on Saturday, but they quickly put that behind them and looked more like the modern dynasty they are in a 105-78 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. They’ll next play in Connecticut on Wednesday.
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 8:07 PM.