2024 was a historic year for the WNBA, with viewership skyrocketing, new stars like Caitlin Clark emerging, leading to increased attendance and merchandise purchases, and social media engagement flourishing.
There is no doubt that the addition of new stars to the league like Clark, Angel Reese and others, combined with perennial stars like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, strengthened women's basketball.
But for one WNBA prospect, 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 had 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 while talking about her association with NIL and Unrivaled. basketball league co-founded by Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
“There will be more stars, more stories, more basketball players, more teams. That's the most exciting part is that the league is still growing. It hasn't even reached that peak yet.”
Johnson is unusual when it comes to college athletes in today's NIL space. She prides herself on being one of the most marketable players thanks to her budding rap career along with her social media influence.
But make no mistake, this is a woman who wakes up at 5 in the morning to get vaccinated and start the day. And she knows that in two years, when she becomes eligible for the WNBA Draft, she will be there waiting to join the pros.
CAITLIN CLARK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER OF WNBA REVENUE WHILE EARNING LESS THAN $80K, EXPERT SAYS
And when he does, Johnson wants to make history.
“There are many things that will come with this. There will be first-time contracts for millions of dollars. There will be first-time this and first-time that. There will be a lot more broken history,” he said. he said excitedly.
Johnson believes the 2023 NCAA women's basketball national championship was a turning point for the sport. It was a game in which he helped the Tigers defeat Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes.
Johnson is the latest example of stars being born before they even become professionals.
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 Final Four game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 31 2023, in Dallas, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
“I think college basketball really took off, if you ask me. If it weren't for the surge that year we won the national championship, it wouldn't be a thing. It would be one thing, but it wouldn't be as big as it was.” now,” Johnson said.
“That came from college and took the pros with Caitlin and Angel to the league. And that will continue to be the case.”
Along with Johnson, let's take UConn's Paige Bueckers. She also has an NIL partnership with Unrivaled and some believe she can have the same effect as Clark in the WNBA. He will likely go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 draft.
And while they may be considered the “next generation,” they are already having an impact on those who will come after them.
“It hit me yesterday,” Johnson said after his final game. “One of my fans tagged me in a TikTok and a girl had a great [number] four ice cold chains and came to our game for his birthday. I say, 'That's the most important day of your life.' Your birthday.'
“We played a terrible team, we beat them by 100 points. She was very happy and we were able to interact and everything. But it shows that she took her time to do that. My presence was valuable enough to her, so I feel like I have to do more in that space.
Johnson has dipped his toes into just about every space he can, requiring a strong work ethic to ensure he can help lead the Tigers to another national championship.
LSU Tigers women's basketball player Flau'jae Johnson speaks during the world premiere of “The Money Game” at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sept. 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 court.
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“It's always been there,” Johnson said of the WNBA 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, you put all the investments into it to make it bigger and better for next time.” generation. Everything. The girls are going to improve. They are going to have more confidence seeing all the girls in front of them.”
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