{"id":596981,"date":"2026-04-21T05:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T05:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/596981\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T05:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T05:28:11","slug":"flaujae-johnson-discusses-the-value-of-ot-select-team-ownership-and-the-competitions-place-in-the-womens-basketball-pipeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/596981\/","title":{"rendered":"Flau\u2019jae Johnson discusses the value of OT Select team ownership and the competition\u2019s place in the women\u2019s basketball pipeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The GIST: Last week, new WNBA draftee Flau\u2019jae Johnson announced she would become an owner<\/a> of an Overtime (OT) Select team dubbed Flau State<\/a> (which fellow rapper Wale may coach<\/a>). We checked in with Johnson last week to discuss how OT Select bolsters the women\u2019s basketball pipeline and what the deal means \u2014 to her and to sponsors.<\/p>\n

The background: Johnson has been heavily involved in the elite high school girls\u2019 basketball league since its 2024 launch, first participating as a player<\/a> and later as a coach<\/a>. Now, she\u2019s excited to be \u201con the ownership side,\u201d noting that current players are inspired to see a fellow baller rise up through the ranks to become an owner.<\/p>\n

The impact: Johnson said that if OT Select existed when she was in high school, she would have \u201chad a chance to really build a platform\u201d \u2014 a remarkable statement from NCAA basketball\u2019s leading NIL athlete<\/a>. She said the program is giving girls an unprecedented spotlight, and there\u2019s increasing interest from brands to sign women\u2019s basketball players as early as possible.<\/p>\n

Johnson says OT excels at showcasing player personalities so fans and followers \u201cfall in love with them as people,\u201d creating \u201cthese mini superstars\u201d that are \u201ca step ahead\u201d of what she had entering college.<\/p>\n

Zooming out: Brands are increasingly seeing the opportunity with OT Select\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and Cameron Brink<\/a> have told us, early brand loyalty matters to athletes. \u201cInvesting in women is amazing, but investing in girls is generational,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s exactly what we need.\u201d Who run the world?<\/a>