Flau'jae Johnson inks NIL deal with Unrivaled, receives equity in women's basketball league

In August, Paige Bueckers became the first college athlete to receive equity in Unrivaled. Thursday morning, the women’s league announced that Flau’jae Johnson will be the second.

The LSU star inked an NIL deal with the league, which is gearing up for its first season. As part of the partnership, Johnson will collaborate with Unrivaled for content throughout the season and receive equity.

Unrivaled was founded WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, and will officially launch in Miami next month. Games will be exclusively on TNT and truTV through a multi-year media rights deal with TNT Sports. It’s the latest notable NIL deal for Johnson, who’s making an impact both on the basketball court and in the music space.

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“I’m so excited to partner with Unrivaled, especially at the start of their first season,” Johnson said in a statement. “This isn’t just about basketball—it’s about pushing the game forward and creating real opportunities for women in sports.

“Unrivaled is changing the game, and I’m proud to be part of something that’s making history. I can’t wait to see how this league inspires the next generation while showing the world just how amazing women’s basketball really is.” 

Johnson is one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball. As she goes through her junior season at LSU, she has an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.5 million, which ranks No. 1 in the college women’s basketball NIL rankings. The partnership with Unrivaled is the latest notable addition to her portfolio, which includes deals with JBL Audio, Apple Cash and Roc Nation.

A crucial part of LSU’s national championship run in 2023, Johnson was one of the subjects of the Amazon Prime documentary The Money Game alongside teammate Angel Reese, Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and gymnast Livvy Dunne. She also debuted her first EP in June – which included a collaboration with Lil Wayne – and performed one of her songs at the ESPYS.

“We’re thrilled to have helped bring this groundbreaking partnership to life between Flau’jae Johnson and Unrivaled League, two trailblazers in women’s sports who continue to inspire and elevate the game to new heights,” said RJ Harris, Managing Partner at Greenwood Ave., in a statement.

Through the first nine games of her junior season, Johnson is off to a strong start. She’s averaging 22.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 54.7% from the field to help LSU to a perfect 9-0 record out of the gate. The Tigers will take on Stanford Thursday night.