Bam Adebayo Praises A'ja Wilson's Landmark WNBA Contract

The Miami Heat star says it's 'about time' his girlfriend got a max deal with the Las Vegas Aces.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:14am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a WNBA basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and bold, vibrant colors.A'ja Wilson's record-breaking WNBA contract is a landmark moment for pay equity in women's sports.Las Vegas Today

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo praised his girlfriend, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson, for signing a three-year, $5 million super-max contract with the Aces. Adebayo said it's 'about time' Wilson, a four-time WNBA MVP and three-time champion, received a deal that reflects her immense talent and accomplishments.

Why it matters

Wilson's contract is a landmark moment for the WNBA, as it represents the league's top players finally being compensated at a level commensurate with their on-court dominance and star power. Adebayo's comments underscore how Wilson's deal is a significant step forward in the fight for pay equity in women's professional sports.

The details

Wilson, 29, is coming off another stellar season where she won her fourth WNBA MVP award and led the Aces to their third championship. She is widely regarded as the greatest women's basketball player of her generation and one of the all-time greats. Wilson's new super-max contract will pay her $1.4 million per year, making her one of the highest-paid players in the WNBA.

  • On April 15, 2026, news broke that Wilson signed a three-year, $5 million deal with the Aces.
  • Wilson, 29, will turn 30 years old in August 2026.

The players

A'ja Wilson

A 29-year-old star forward for the Las Vegas Aces who has won four WNBA MVP awards and three WNBA championships. She is considered one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time.

Bam Adebayo

A 28-year-old superstar center for the Miami Heat who is dating A'ja Wilson.

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What they’re saying

“About time. They've been fighting for this for a long time. So, for them to have that opportunity to obviously get super-max, and it has the 'M' at the end, you see how much the game is growing, how much their game is growing, how much attention is surrounded by their game, how much attention is surrounded by their person, to where they love the needle that much; to where those contracts look like that.”

— Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat Center

The takeaway

A'ja Wilson's historic super-max contract with the Las Vegas Aces represents a major milestone for pay equity in the WNBA, as the league's top players are finally being compensated at a level that reflects their immense talent and star power. Bam Adebayo's enthusiastic praise for his girlfriend's deal underscores how Wilson's contract is a significant step forward for women's professional sports.