A'ja Wilson revealed why she kept her relationship with boyfriend Bam Adebayo a secret in a new Vanity Fair cover story published on May 12
NEED TO KNOW
-
The Las Vegas Aces star sparked romance rumors with the Miami Heat player in summer 2024, but didn't confirm their status until a year later
-
Wilson said that she and Adebayo "never lose the fun" in their relationship
A'ja Wilsonhas found her teammate off the court.
As one of the latestVanity Faircover stars, the WNBA icon opened up about her boyfriend,Bam Adebayo, and why they decided to keep their romance a secret for months before going public.
"We just wanted to make sure that we were secure in ourselves, our relationship, and our foundation,” Wilson, 29, told the outlet of the Heat superstar, 28, in her cover story published on Tuesday, May 12.
Wilson and Adebayo first sparked dating rumors in summer 2024 after they were spotted together ahead of theParis Olympics. While they kept their status tight-lipped for months, she subtlyconfirmed their romanceto PEOPLE in February 2025 during NBA All-Star Weekend.
The WNBA history-maker has given her fans rare glimpses inside their relationship ever since making it public, but she remains intentional about keeping certain parts of their romance private and protected from outside scrutiny.
"People know more than they knew before," she shared, adding, "But it’s still a situation that we hold really close to us only because this world is nasty."
Take PEOPLE with you!Subscribe to PEOPLE magazineto get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more — right to your mailbox.
Wilson, who told the outlet she now shares a white stucco house with her boyfriend in one of Vegas' upscale neighborhoods, then went on to gush about what she loves about the basketball player, which is a big reason why their relationship works.
"That is why I love our relationship — we never lose the fun," she toldVanity Fairwhile laughing alongside Adebayo, despite his team losing to the Philadelphia 76ers the night before. "We’re just really two big kids," she added.
Advertisement
The couple, both basketball stars in their own right, support each other both on and off the court.
"I try to watch his games as a fan, but I always end up watching it as a player," Wilson said of the Heat player. "I do have so much happiness when watching him succeed, because I see the hours that he puts in."
The Aces center also opened up about her future plans, both personal and professional, outside of basketball.
"I would love to just dive into being a wife, being a mother," Wilson said. "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.' "
In December, Wilson opened up in herTimeAthlete of the Year cover story about wanting to have kids with her "life partner," Adebayo.
"That is always a dream," Wilson told the outlet of the Heat star.
When theTimereporter told Wilson her former college coach Dawn Staley asked to know when the couple were planning to get married, Wilson joked, "That's the question I need you to deliver to him!"
But it seemed Adebayo was already thinking about it. WhenTimeposed the question of when to Adebayo, he said, “Y’all will know, because people are nosy and they’ll look at her hands. There you go."
Read the original article onPeople