Ahead of every new WNBA season, Las Vegas Aces fans wait in giddy anticipation for a lot of reasons, but one of the growing ones over the last couple of years is what new look MVP A’ja Wilson is going to pop out with. Previously, she’s done bubblegum pink and icy silver gray (a nod to another X-Man, Storm).
During the Aces’ 2026 Media Day to kick off the new season, Wilson strolled in wearing a beautiful, deep red lacefront piece that she says invokes iconic X-Man, Jean Grey.
Not just the hair was inspired by Jean, her shoes were as well. She wanted something that would pop in a different way than 2025’s legendary pink wig that inspired thousands of fans to wear pink wigs at every home game. Wilson’s love for comics and cartoons is pretty well-known, having done Scooby-Doo and “Recess” looks for previous Halloweens.
Not to be outshined by Wilson’s new fiery red look, silent assassin Jackie Young showed off her perfect buss down complete with leopard print markings. The players are having a blast, you can sense their joy, as we enter a new season.
The Aces are the defending champions (something most of the team is used to at this point), after a roller coaster of a season last year and dealing with the uncertainties of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and the WNBA. Wilson signed three-year, $5 million supermax contract to stay with the Aces, one of the best deals you can possibly get right now as a WNBA player.
The Las Vegas Aces face the Dallas Wings in a preseason face-off on Sunday, May 3, with the regular season kicking off on Saturday, May 9 against the Phoenix Mercury at T-Mobile Arena.
I am a published writer, full-time editor, an events and entertainment reporter and mother of one. Comic books, drag queens, women’s basketball, queer films and TV shows are my bread and butter.
