Celebrity Name: Flau’jae Johnson
Brand Name: PUMA
Represented By: Kia Brooks (Mother/Manager)
Deal Type: Multi-Year NIL Signature Sneaker Partnership
Announced: March 5, 2026
Impact: Deepens PUMA’s investment in women’s hoops and music culture while giving Johnson a platform to honor her father and expand her brand ahead of a likely WNBA leap
- LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson and PUMA Basketball have unveiled a two-sneaker signature pack: the All-Pro Nitro 2 Flau’jae PE and the Majesty Flau’jae PE, dropping globally on March 13, 2026.
- Both shoes are wrapped in a camouflage print paying direct tribute to her late father, Baton Rouge rapper Camoflauge, who was killed in 2003 before Flau’jae was even born.
- PUMA first signed Johnson to a multi-year NIL deal in September 2022, making her one of the first women’s college basketball players to land a major shoe brand partnership. Her NIL valuation now sits at $1.5M, the highest in women’s college hoops.
- The launch positions Johnson as a full signature athlete ahead of an expected WNBA Draft declaration following her senior season at LSU.
Flau’jae Johnson is stepping into a new chapter, one she’s dedicating to the father she never had enough time with. The LSU senior guard and PUMA Basketball have just unveiled a two-sneaker signature pack, and every stitch carries a message.
The collection includes the All-Pro Nitro 2 Flau’jae PE, a performance basketball shoe priced at $140, and the Majesty Flau’jae PE, a lifestyle silhouette at $90.
Both are wrapped in a signature camouflage print: a direct nod to her late father, Baton Rouge rapper Camoflauge, who was shot and killed in 2003. Flau’jae was just months old. She never got to know him, so she’s making sure the world sees him through her.
Her mother and manager, Kia Brooks, has driven the brand-building from the start. It was Brooks who negotiated the original PUMA NIL deal back in September 2022, making Flau’jae one of the very first women’s college athletes to land a major shoe partnership. That early bet has paid off.
Much like Rosalía used her New Balance campaign to fuse personal artistry with a global brand, Johnson is doing the same: blending basketball, rap, and raw family legacy into something entirely her own.
The shoes drop March 13 at PUMA.com, the PUMA app, flagship stores in New York City and Las Vegas, Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, and Champs Sports.
Johnson’s brand portfolio keeps growing too. She recently starred in a Samsung x Google Gemini campaign, proving her crossover appeal stretches well beyond the hardwood.
Off the court, she is also a Roc Nation-signed recording artist, holds equity in the Unrivaled basketball league, and partners with JBL Audio and Apple Cash.
Takeaways
This isn’t just a sneaker launch, it’s a signal. Flau’jae Johnson didn’t wait until she went pro to build a signature line. She built it in college, around a deeply personal story, and the result feels emotionally authentic rather than commercially manufactured.
PUMA’s sustained bet on Johnson also says something bigger about the market: women’s college basketball is no longer a “wait and see” proposition for major brands.
With NIL deals maturing and athletes like Johnson commanding real cultural attention, the business case for investing early is now undeniable. Her $1.5M NIL valuation, the highest in women’s college basketball, says everything about where this space is headed.
Could more women’s basketball stars follow Johnson’s lead into signature lifestyle lines next? How might Flau’jae’s success influence other young hoopers who also make music or create content?
