Flau’jae Johnson, a 21-year-old star basketball player, rapper, student, and aspiring businesswoman, has signed a deal with the new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled. As part of the deal, Johnson will receive an equity stake in the league and will collaborate on content throughout the season. The league, which kicks off its inaugural season in January, aims to offer female athletes another option to play basketball in the US during the WNBA offseason.
Johnson, who has become a marketing powerhouse, has led LSU to the 2023 national championship and is now a top prospect for WNBA teams. Off the court, she is also a rapper, having signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2021 and releasing a song with Lil Wayne in June. She has more than 3.5 million followers across her social media platforms and has signed deals with various brands, including Meta, Puma, Powerade, the Athlete’s Foot, and Amazon.
Johnson has also been named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list, with an estimated net worth of $7 million. She is ranked No. 1 by On3 as having the highest name, image, and likeness, or NIL, valuation of college women’s basketball players. Johnson is expected to enter the WNBA draft in the future, but is not worried about her brand diminishing, citing the opportunities she will still have post-draft.
In addition to her business ventures, Johnson is also an aspiring businesswoman, taking time to learn about business by meeting with CEOs, watching YouTube videos, and reading books like “Investing 101” by Michele Cagan. She looks up to LeBron James as a role model, citing his business acumen and philanthropic efforts. Johnson emphasizes the importance of discipline, consistency, and time management in balancing her multiple pursuits.