Barack Obama’s Daughter Involved in A’ja Wilson’s Upcoming Project

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Madz Dizon | Last updated May 4, 2025 9:18 PM ET

Former President Barack Obama’s eldest daughter, Malia Obama, has stepped into the spotlight behind the camera, directing a new Nike commercial for Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe line, the A’One.

The highly anticipated ad, which promotes the first-ever A’ja Wilson sneakers, is set to coincide with the official launch of the "Pink A'ura" colorway on May 6.

Malia Obama, a Harvard graduate who has previously worked on shows like “Swarm” and “Girls,” continues to build her career in Hollywood — this time directing one of the most talked-about sports campaigns of the year.

In a post reshared by Wilson on her Instagram Story, Malia Obama was seen collaborating closely with the WNBA star and a young actress featured in the shoot.

The commercial includes a creative blend of playground rhymes and real-life highlights from Wilson’s journey, including cameos from her college coach, Dawn Staley.

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— mydzn (@MadelaineDizon) May 5, 2025

This isn’t Malia Obama’s first success in film. In 2023, she wrote and directed a short film titled “The Heart,” which was featured at both the Sundance and Telluride Film Festivals and won Best Live Action Short at the Chicago International Film Festival, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, Wilson’s A’One line is a celebration of her groundbreaking accomplishments. In 2024, she had a historic WNBA season, setting records for most points, highest scoring average, most blocks and most rebounds.

She was also named MVP of Team USA after winning Olympic gold and later became the second player in league history to be voted MVP unanimously. These accolades, along with her back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, helped pave the way for her new signature shoe.

Beyond the sneakers, Wilson is also releasing a children’s book titled “The Best is Yet to Come” in partnership with Rebel Girls and Nike, which will be available for free on May 29, according to Sports Business Journal.

With Malia Obama behind the lens and A’ja Wilson at center court, this collaboration between culture, sport and storytelling is making history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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