For Flau’jae Johnson, one of the highest-paid NIL athletes who thrives on media presence, it took one conversation to say, “I’m not doing anymore interviews.” LSU’s face for the upcoming season and a thriving artist under Roc Nation, an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast was just another opportunity to talk hoops and build brand, until it wasn’t. When a comment was singled out, it all blew up. But as the conversation grows old, the spotlight seems to have shifted– it is not just about the remarks anymore, and Johnson is receiving her applause.
Mid-July, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe asked the LSU forward one controversial question on his podcast: “Do you believe that a WNBA player could beat an NBA player?” That was in reference to A’ja Wilson’s earlier comments about taking on Josh Hart. Johnson was put in a spot, but she did not shy away from speaking her mind, although she was cautious about it.
“I just don’t. It’s not physically possible,” Flau’jae argued, refusing to direct anything at the Aces star. “I could barely grab rim. You over the backboard. I’m not about to play you, no. NBA player like, no.” Yeah, that drew criticism, and more so, when the caption on the clip read, “A’ja Wilson is wrong! WNBA players can’t beat NBA players.” So, the co-hosts Ros Gold-Onwude and Logan Hackett on the Good Fellow podcast, alongside guest Juju Gotti, are picking on the intent this whole segment seemed to be built on.
“For me it was such a ‘gotcha’ question,” Gold-Onwude started. “It was set up so like Flau’jae would be in a position where she could say clickbait like, “oh yeah! WBA players could be… NBA players,” but our girl, first of all, is way too smart for that and she did not take the bait.”
Instead of elaborating on the difference between the two leagues, the player compared herself and denied the comparison altogether. Neither the co-hosts on the podcast nor Gotti appreciated Sharpe using the interview time with someone as young and dynamic as Johnson for such a question. Hackett did not miss out on calling the click-baity caption either. But they aren’t the only ones calling it out.
While the 21-year-old LSU star had to come out and clarify she wasn’t speaking against her ‘GOAT’ A’ja Wilson, the Aces forward’s friend had noted that podcast with Sharpe was bound to draw eyes. But away from it all, Gold-Onwude believes the NBA vs WNBA shouldn’t have been a question to begin with.
While women’s national league was established to empower young girls and draw them to the sport, the agenda was never to compete with the men’s league. Highlighting this sentiment, Ros said, “Women playing ball is not about women’s ability to beat men. It’s about women’s ability to beat other women, right? And I think we should let women’s hoop be women’s hoop and men’s hoop be men’s hoop. Once we can do that, I think it’ll be better for us overall.”
After all, the league began as a movement, and not as a competition to the existing men’s league. And as the conversation goes on, Flau’jae is away from the screen, securing her future.
Flau’jae Johnson strikes a deal with the Unrivaled
The LSU Tiger, with an NIL valuation of 1.5 million, was selected as one of the 14 players for the Future is Unrivaled summit in Miami. And clearly, she made the most out of the multi-day event. Well, she reportedly signed a lucrative deal with the league. And accordingly, Johnson will receive equity shares. But this isn’t the first time.
Founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the Unrivaled is a 3×3 basketball league with six clubs. It includes playoffs and 1-on-1 elimination rounds for a total of nine weeks. While the league began operations in January 2025, the recent summit aimed at increasing involvement of players in the league’s ownership, financial, and several other operations.
Johnson had signed a deal with Unrivaled ahead of the inaugural season as an NIL athlete. And these offers only cement her position as a promising player. After all, securing top deals including equity-shares isn’t a cakewalk for a college-level athlete. With her presence, Johnson is representing the upcoming generation of players in the WNBA. The go-getters, who are not afraid to embrace their identity, and can juggle multiple careers at a time.
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