Mom Kia Brooks expresses gratitude after Flau'jae Johnson’s massive move with Unrivaled league

Flau'jae Johnson joined Paige Bueckers as the second college athlete to sign with Unrivalled, the professional 3x3 women's basketball league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

The league features six clubs with the players having an ownership stake in the teams. Its first season is set for January 2024.

Sharing the news on her Instagram story, Flau'jae Johnson's mother, Kia Brooks, wrote:

"Just a young girl from a small town called Savannah!!"

She captioned her next story:

"When God clapping for you, you are set. He the biggest. God plan."

Flau'jae Johnson is playing her third season with the LSU Tigers. After the national championship as a freshman, Johnson led the Tigers on an Elite Eight run last season. They are expected to build on it and take home another title this season.

Flau'jae Johnson comments on the significance of her Unrivaled partnership

In an interview with Fox News, Flau'jae Johnson revealed that her connection with New York Liberty forward, Brenna Stewart, played a role in accepting the deal. The LSU guard and New York forward are Puma's brand ambassadors.

"When they came to be about it, I was like, ‘Me and Stewie already have a relationship, because we’re both PUMA athletes,’" Johnson said. "So, it was kind of a no-brainer."

Unrivaled is one of the first leagues to have players as its owners. With the introduction of this league, Stewart and Collier hoped to give players better opportunities to earn and grow their business profile.

"I think the equity is the most important part, just being able to be invested in something like that," Johnson said. "And for me, being able to leverage my brand and to create business opportunities. That’s really what this NIL space is all about.

"When you’re in NIL, you literally have this short window where everybody wants to have you a part [of something], so to really leverage that into something that’s going to last for a long time. It’s going to be in my business portfolio and gain capital in the future, that’s a really big deal."

With the games set to begin early in 2025, Johnson is set to take on a more promotional role as she prepares for her transition to the WNBA in 2026.