What Flau’jae Johnson’s Unrivaled NIL deal means for her WNBA status

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson has a new NIL deal with Unrivaled, and the partnership could have huge implications.

Despite having rosters loaded with talent, Unrivaled is ensuring that it also has stars for the foreseeable future. Earlier this year, the league announced a special NIL deal with UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers, and now it’s doing the same with LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson.

On Thursday, the new basketball organization announced that it’s signing the young hooper to a sponsorship that ensures her league equity. As part of the agreement, she will also create unique content for Unrivaled. (Perhaps we’ll get some Flau’jae originals or hype music from the rapper.)

However, there’s a big elephant in the room. Johnson is still in college and has yet to indicate if she’s going to the WNBA, leaving many to wonder what her new deal means for the future.

Here’s a hint: Per Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, Flau’jae is expected to join Unrivaled in January 2026. Johnson would have to forgo her senior season at LSU to do that. If she decides to skip her final year, it could also mean she’s declaring early and going to the 2025 WNBA Draft.

She would technically meet the league’s criteria of being a senior or turning 22 in the same calendar year as the draft. That means she could play an entire WNBA season with Bueckers and still join her in Miami when Unrivaled’s second year starts.