What Flau’jae Johnson’s unbeatable 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 impact.

Although the roster is full of talent, Unrivaled is making sure it 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 would sign the young basketball player to a sponsorship agreement that would ensure her equal opportunities in the league. As part of the agreement, she will also create unique content for Unrivaled. (Maybe we’ll get some Flau’jae originals or hype music from the rapper.)

However, there is a big elephant in the room. Johnson is still studying and has not yet indicated whether she is heading to the WNBA, leaving many wondering what her new contract means for the future.

Here’s a hint: Per Austin Karp from Sports Business JournalFlau’jae is expected to join Unrivaled in January 2026. To do so, Johnson would have to forego her senior season at LSU. If she decides to skip her senior year, that could also mean declaring early and heading to the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Technically, she would meet the league’s criteria of making the senior team in the same calendar year as the draft or turning 22. That means she could play a full WNBA season with Bueckers and still join her in Miami when Unrivaled’s second year begins.