LSU star Flau’jae Johnson looks forward to WNBA future after record-breaking 2024 season: ‘Just the beginning’

It was a historic year for the WNBA in 2024, with viewership skyrocketing, the emergence of new stars like Caitlin Clark leading to increased viewership, merchandise purchases and thriving social media engagement.

There is no doubt that the addition of new stars to the league like Clark, Angel Reese and others, combined with long-time All-Stars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, has strengthened women’s basketball.

But for a WNBA contender, the game’s popularity this year is just “the tip of the iceberg.”

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Flau’jae Johnson of the LSU Tigers before a game against the Northwestern State Demons at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Nov. 9, 2024 in Baton Rouge. (Kristen Young/LSU/Getty Images)

“Now that the WNBA has finally lit its spark and this is the first year it’s really taken off, it’s only going to get bigger from here,” LSU star Flau’jae Johnson told Fox News Digital during She spoke about her NIL partnership with the Unrivaled basketball league co-founded by Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

“There will be more stars, more storylines, more basketball players, more teams. The most exciting thing is that the league is still growing. She hasn’t even reached that peak yet.”

Johnson is a rarity when it comes to college athletes in today’s NIL field. She prides herself on being one of the most marketable players with her burgeoning rap career and social media influence.

But make no mistake, this is a woman who gets up at 5 a.m. to get a shot to start her day. And she knows that in two years, when she qualifies for the WNBA draft, she’ll be there waiting to move on to the pros.

CAITLIN CLARK is responsible for more than a quarter of the WNBA’s revenue and earns less than $80,000, an expert says

And when she does, Johnson wants to make history.

“So much will come with this. There will be million dollar contracts for the first time said excitedly.

Johnson believes the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship marked a turning point for the sport. It was a game in which she helped the Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes.

Johnson is the latest example of stars being born before they even reach the pros.

Angel Reese, right, and Flau’jae Johnson of the LSU Lady Tigers react after a 79-72 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies during a 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four game at the American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023 in Dallas, Texas . (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

“If you ask me, I think college basketball has really taken off. If it wasn’t for the momentum that helped us win the national championship this year, this wouldn’t be a thing. It would be a thing, but it would be like this.” “It won’t be as big as it is now,” Johnson said.

“That came from college and led to Caitlin and Angel going to the pros. And it will continue to be that way.”

In addition to Johnson, take UConn’s Paige Bueckers. She also has an NIL partnership with Unrivaled and some believe she can have the same impact as Clark in the WNBA. She will likely go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 draft.

And although they are considered the “next generation,” they are already impacting those who come after them.

“It kind of hit me yesterday,” Johnson said after her final game. “One of my fans tagged me in a TikTok and a girl had a big (number) four ice cream necklace and came to our game for her birthday. I thought, ‘This is the most important day of your life.’ . Your birthday.’

“We played against a terrible team and outscored them by 100 points. She was so happy and we were able to interact and all that. But that just shows that she made time for it. My presence was valuable enough for her. That’s why I feel like I need to do more in this area.

Johnson has done just about everything she can, which requires a strong work ethic to ensure she can help lead the Tigers to another national championship.

LSU Tigers basketball player Flau’jae Johnson speaks during the world premiere of “The Money Game” at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on September 4, 2024 in Baton Rouge. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)

But to say the future is bright for women’s basketball would be an understatement. Johnson said there is finally respect for how great these women can be on the hardwood.

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“It’s always been there,” Johnson said of the WNBA’s stars. “Stewie has always been there. Sue Bird has always been there. It’s like the time is now, and once the time comes, you put all the resources and investments into making it bigger and better for the next generation. Everything.” The girls will get better by watching all the girls in front of them.

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