"I'm getting emotional here": Flau'Jae Johnson requests people to buy TikTok to continue her NIL reign

LSU women's basketball star Flau'Jae Johnson made an emotional plea on Instagram amidst reports that TikTok will be banned in the United States. Johnson posted a video highlighting how she benefitted from TikTok and begged her "rich friends" to buy the social media platform before it shuts down on Sunday, Jan. 19.

"Can somebody please buy TikTok? Y'all know I'm high on the NIL earners list. But I ain't got to buy TikTok money yet. Should I do my TikTok eulogy right now? I'm getting emotional here. Ahh, TikTok has done so much for me, put me in such a great position. Been viral a gazillion times. Kind of took TikTok for granted.

"Y'all, this is a heartbreaker. I ain't gonna lie. This feels like a best friend break up. If you watch my podcast, all my rich friends out there, please go buy TikTok, please. Ya'll got about two days. I just want to thank TikTok for everything you have done to me. RIP."

Johnson is the highest-earning NIL-valued female athlete, with deals estimated at $1.5 million. She has deals with big brands like Amazon, Meta, Roc Nation, Puma, Powerade and most recently, Unrivaled.

Flau'Jae Johnson drops 3 words to sum up Unrivaled opening night

Flau'Jae Johnson became the second athlete to sign a NIL deal with Unrivaled after Paige Bueckers. Although Johnson did not participate in the inaugural season of the league, she was extremely impressed with the opening night on Jan. 17.

""Unrivaled is gas," the LSU guard posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Unrivaled league concept consists of six teams, an eight-week season, with 3-on-3 teams on a full basketball court. Each game consists of three 7-minute quarters and a 'winning score.' However, each team aims to reach a winning score which ends the game instantly, rather than play until time elapses.

"Every game, we will have a game-winning shot," Alex Bazzell, president of Unrivaled, said per Fox Sport. "That was important for us because coming out of the third quarter, there's no mystery of what you need to do."

The new 3-on-3 basketball league began with co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart facing off as the Lunar Owls beat the Mist 84-80. Unrivaled's second matchup on Saturday will feature WNBA stars Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner as Phantom faces Laces.

Meanwhile, Unrivaled raised over $35 million from various sources and dozens of individual investors, including Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma and Coco Gauff. The league also secured partnership deals with several companies and a multi-year media rights deal with TNT Sports.