Basketball's power couple, A'ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo, have publicly criticised a former ESPN reporter for what they labelled a "strange" and invasive question about their private life.
A Public Relationship and Private Boundaries
After months of speculation, WNBA superstar A'ja Wilson and Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo recently confirmed their relationship. Wilson, named Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2025, has spoken candidly, calling Adebayo her "life partner" and expressing her dream of starting a family with the three-time NBA All-Star.
These intimate revelations, however, were used in a context that left the couple deeply uncomfortable. Days after the Time interview, former ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols made a controversial remark while covering the NBA Cup semi-finals on Saturday night.
The 'Bizarre' On-Air Comment
During a pre-game interview with Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nichols joked about the team's general manager, Sam Presti, and his relentless pursuit of talent. She suggested Presti would be so dedicated that he would be "present in the doctor's office" when Wilson and Adebayo have a child.
A taken-aback Gilgeous-Alexander responded in kind, stating, "Sam takes his job very seriously, and whatever it takes to be great, he will do." The comment, intended as humour, did not land well with the couple it referenced.
Social Media Backlash and Defence of Privacy
Both Wilson and Adebayo swiftly took to the social media platform Threads to voice their disapproval. Wilson posted, "Yall don’t think this a lil strange orrrr weird..??? But I guess it’s a slow day in the office."
Adebayo's response was more succinct but pointed, writing simply, "This why privacy matters." Many fans expressed bafflement at Nichols' decision to involve the couple, who have no direct connection to Gilgeous-Alexander or the Thunder, in the segment.
The incident was particularly notable given that just days earlier, Nichols had publicly praised Wilson for her Time Magazine accolade, highlighting on Threads that Wilson was named "Athlete of the year," not just "female athlete of the year."
Wilson's on-court achievements are monumental. In October, she led the Las Vegas Aces to a WNBA Finals sweep over the Phoenix Mercury, securing her second WNBA title and Finals MVP award. Her historic postseason included a buzzer-beating game-winner in Game 3, with the Aces dominating offensively throughout the series.
