Flau’jae Johnson discusses the value of OT Select team ownership and the competition’s place in the women’s basketball pipeline

The GIST: Last week, new WNBA draftee Flau’jae Johnson announced she would become an owner of an Overtime (OT) Select team dubbed Flau State (which fellow rapper Wale may coach). We checked in with Johnson last week to discuss how OT Select bolsters the women’s basketball pipeline and what the deal means — to her and to sponsors.

The background: Johnson has been heavily involved in the elite high school girls’ basketball league since its 2024 launch, first participating as a player and later as a coach. Now, she’s excited to be “on the ownership side,” noting that current players are inspired to see a fellow baller rise up through the ranks to become an owner.

The impact: Johnson said that if OT Select existed when she was in high school, she would have “had a chance to really build a platform” — a remarkable statement from NCAA basketball’s leading NIL athlete. She said the program is giving girls an unprecedented spotlight, and there’s increasing interest from brands to sign women’s basketball players as early as possible.

• Johnson says OT excels at showcasing player personalities so fans and followers “fall in love with them as people,” creating “these mini superstars” that are “a step ahead” of what she had entering college.

• For brands, getting in early with star athletes has its benefits — consider how Geico followed Azzi Fudd and State Farm followed Caitlin Clark to the WNBA. Brands like Invisalign are already looking to OT Select to win over what Johnson calls “real fans.”

Zooming out: Brands are increasingly seeing the opportunity with OT Select’s avid audience, and its brand portfolio has only grown. Gatorade, State Farm, Adidas, Target, Hershey, T-Mobile, and E.l.f. have all signed on as Season 3 sponsors.

• Media and brand exposure will continue to raise the profile of athletes as they come up, something brand partners can take advantage of by backing an athlete early. As Johnson and Cameron Brink have told us, early brand loyalty matters to athletes.

• “Investing in women is amazing, but investing in girls is generational,” Johnson said. “It’s exactly what we need.” Who run the world?