Flau’jae Johnson is a trailblazer, on and off the court. 

A well-known rapper who is also a prominent player for LSU basketball women’s basketball, Johnson signed an NIL deal with Puma to promote its shoes on her social media. But LSU has a multimillion-dollar contract with Nike.

While the conflicting sponsorship deals might seem complicated, the reality is fairly simple: Johnson still has to wear Nike shoes during games, practices and official public appearances. But on her own social media, she’s allowed to promote other brands.

Johnson isn’t the first athlete to sign such a deal. Rose Zhang, a golfer at Stanford, signed a deal with adidas last May, despite Stanford being sponsored by Nike. She is allowed to represent adidas on and off the course — whenever she is not competing for her university.

Still, the landscape of college athletics must adjust to this and similar NIL dilemmas.

“It feels good,” Johnson told the Wall Street Journal. “You feel like it’s trailblazing, you know?”

Announced A Puma Deal and Dropped A BTS Music Video In The Same Day.. Big4️⃣
“Phenom” out now https://t.co/o6EEprRXxr pic.twitter.com/Vr12fZXRCV

— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) September 8, 2022

LSU athletics chief brand officer Cody Worsham said that he hadn’t heard anything from Nike about Johnson’s deal. Johnson was offered by multiple shoe companies, including Air Jordan, but ultimately settled on Puma. 

Sonny Vaccaro, who signed Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal while at Nike, said that athletes shouldn’t be forced to bend to deals made by a school. 

“You would think, looking at it, ‘Well, that’s fair.’ It’s not fair,” Vaccaro said. “Because the girl has a right to market her own body, her own image. It’s hers. She didn’t sign the contract with Nike or Adidas to wear at LSU or Notre Dame or any other school.”

And while Puma made the deal knowing that Johnson couldn’t wear its shoes during games, that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t want that to change. 

Max Staiger, who heads up basketball at Puma, wishes Johnson could wear the brand on the court. But he thinks eventually the model could shift to one similar to that of the NBA, where players wear uniforms under a league-wide contract but have their own shoe deals. 

“If I had to take a guess, I think the NIL world will eventually move towards what the professional leagues have,” he said.

When Arsenal announced USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger as their newest signing on Thursday, she became a symbolic center-point for both an NWSL exodus and an influx of talent to the WSL. A 2023 NWSL champion with Gotham FC, Nighswonger is one of numerous departures from the New Jersey club this offseason as their 2024 superteam experiment resulted in a roster bursting at the seams.

The 24-year-old is also one of many players to move abroad from the American league, following USWNT teammate Naomi Girma — who signed with Chelsea for a record fee — 2023 NWSL MVP Kerolin, and more to England. With so many moving parts, it’s easy for one player to be caught up in a worldwide debate larger than simply one career.

But as Nighswonger tells it, the decision to sign with Arsenal comes from a simpler, more personal place. “Playing in England is just something that I've always wanted to do,” she tells Just Women’s Sports. “So sometimes when an opportunity presents itself, even if you're happy at a club, you just have to take a leap of faith.”

Like many players before her, she’s less interested in comparing the NWSL with the WSL than describing her own personal journey as a footballer. “I have nothing but positive things to say about Gotham and the NWSL,” she says. “I think [transferring] is just a fun opportunity to play in another country, and learn about a new culture.”

The transfer opportunity came quickly, she says, though she notes that with any offseason comes the possibility of player movement. “My agent just called me and I was through the moon, just so excited.”

A fitting positional move for Arsenal

Beyond the headlines, positionally the transfer is clearly a good fit for Nighswonger’s continued development. Despite originally entering into her professional career as an attacking midfielder, she’ll be continuing on as a left-back after winning NWSL Rookie of the Year at the position in 2023. 

“I'm so grateful for [Gotham],” she says. “Because when they picked me up out of college, I was an attacking mid, and they saw the vision and had confidence in me to be a left-back.

The 24-year-old’s successful conversion is what garnered attention from the USWNT senior team, as she went from a position of immense depth for the team in the attacking to one where they are looking for consistency. Nighswonger featured as an option off the bench for the US during their gold medal run in Paris last summer, but still has yet to unseat 32-year-old Crystal Dunn for the starting job in a major competition.

Dunn herself is just one example of an attacking-minded player making the successful conversion to out-side back at the international level, and Nighswonger trusts that with more appearances in a role on the flank, the more comfortable she will become.

“When I first changed to left-back, I was kind of like, ‘what am I doing?’” she says. “I had a little bit of a moment — I thought I was the No. 10, that's what I've been for a while. And then switching to left back, as I began to play it I started to love it more and more.”

“I might not have the experience that all these other left-backs have,” she says. “But I have talents coming from other positions that are useful as well.”

While Nighswonger is certainly attacking-minded while shifting through the different thirds of the field, she increasingly feels a level of understanding necessary to become a true two-way player at the highest level. The NWSL has a reputation for fast-paced play with a high level of transition, but Gotham wasn’t a stranger to games where they favored the possession-based style one would encounter more often in Europe.

In the 2024 regular season, Gotham played a very fluid defensive formation that utilized Nighswonger’s instincts as an attacker, in which the team would defend in a back four but would attack with the outside-backs pushing into the attacking third. It wouldn’t be uncommon to see Nighswonger beside her center-backs on opposing goal kicks, but the moment Gotham won possession back she’d be moving forward ready for service and the possibility of a quick attack.

“The more I play this position and the more games I hopefully get on the national team or with Arsenal, challenges are gonna happen,” she says. “It's just trying to work through those and accept that adversity is what's going to make you better in the long run.”

Nighswonger talks overcoming adversity

While she downplays any talk of strife between her and her first professional club, some of that adversity did show on the pitch in 2024. Nighswonger didn’t start Gotham’s final regular season game —nor either of their two postseason matches — as the club favored an outside-back pairing of newer signing Jess Carter and longtime veteran Mandy Freeman. 

With Carter, Freeman, and Brazilian defender Bruninha all under contract in 2025, it’s possible that the position had become a little crowded in New Jersey. Nighswonger also had her hands full in her most recent appearance for the US, struggling against the Netherlands before being substituted at halftime in the team’s final friendly of 2024.

But none of those factors spell disaster for a young player, they might simply signal a need for a change. And Nighswonger won’t be without allies as she continues to develop, as she will likely be suiting up across US teammate Emily Fox, who has excelled since transferring to the Gunners in 2024.

Arsenal foster a new culture on and off the field

Nighswonger says Fox was an important point of contact when making the decision to transfer, and that she’s also excited to learn as much as possible from Katie McCabe, who has run the left flank for Arsenal for years. And off the pitch, she’s ready for every new challenge.

She’s eager for Fox to show her around London, and she can’t wait for her first match with her new team at the Emirates, which became the women’s side’s main home this season. She’s already heard good things about player housing, and even when touring the facilities for her medical checkup she was struck by the history she was walking into.

“I’ve wanted to come here since I was seven because I watched the Premier League,” she says. “It's always been a dream of mine.”

Jumping in after the NWSL offseason, Nighswonger is focused on getting up to speed and meshing with the locker room culture that Arsenal has already established. From there, it’s all about helping the team compete for trophies against the other ambitious sides across Europe. With Chelsea ahead of the pack in the WSL standings and a number of top sides competing for this year’s Champions League title, the pursuit will take everybody.

“We're going after trophies,” Nighswonger says. “I'm here to help the team win, and I know that they want to win too, so full steam ahead.”

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark officially turned the NBA down on Wednesday, declining to participate in the 2025 Starry 3-Point Contest at next month's NBA All-Star Weekend. 

"Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star," Clark's reps at Excel Sports Management told The Athletic. "She wants her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer."

The men's league tapped the WNBA's reigning Rookie of the Year after last year's three-point contest between Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu and Golden State's Steph Curry proved a success. That WNBA vs. NBA event, in which Curry edged Ionescu 29-26, arguably outshone the NBA's regular three-point competition.

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Though Clark played in her first WNBA All-Star Game last summer, she did not take part in the three-point contest. However, with Indianapolis hosting this year's edition, the sharpshooter seems set on making her three-point debut on the Fever's home court.

Consequently, Ionescu could step in for a surprise rematch in Clark's absence. Though she hasn't confirmed any participation in the NBA's upcoming All-Star festivities in San Francisco, the Unrivaled player did recently mention that she'll miss some of her 3x3 games due to prior obligations — and that she'll be in her Bay Area home for the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Clark to accept Iowa honor

Though Clark passed on the NBA, she will be in attendance at Iowa's home game against No. 4 USC on Sunday, when her alma mater will honor the star by raising her No. 22 jersey into the rafters of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The undisputed greatest player in program history, Clark led Iowa to back-to-back national championship games en route to twice being named the consensus National Player of the Year. Her 3,951 college points make Clark the Division I men’s and women’s all-time leading scorer, and she tops the NCAA women’s career three-point list with 548 shots made beyond the arc. 

Sunday's ceremony will make Clark the third player in program history to see her number retired, joining fellow Iowa standouts Megan Gustafson (10) and Michelle Edwards (30).

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Not to be outdone, Clark's foundation awarded four $22,000 grants to Iowa-based charities on Wednesday, giving back to the community who supported her historic collegiate run prior to Sunday's celebration.

Accordingly, the four organizations Clark chose to receive the grants are the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, the Coralville Community Food Pantry, the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor, and the Iowa-East Central branch of the Special Olympics.

"I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye," Clark said in the school’s December announcement. "It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni."

More Clark logo threes coming in May

Proving she can't stay away from campus for long, Clark has already scheduled a return trip — and she's bringing the entire Indiana Fever in tow.

According to a Thursday announcement, the WNBA team will take on the Brazilian national team in a preseason exhibition game under Clark's newly raised jersey on May 4th.

"We couldn’t be more excited to play at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and we know Iowa fans will deliver an unforgettable homecoming for Caitlin," Fever president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement. "Countless Hawkeye fans have become Fever fans, and we consider them family."

How to watch Caitlin Clark's jersey retirement at No. 4 USC vs. Iowa

Clark's jersey retirement will occur during Sunday's 1:30 PM ET game between No. 4 USC and Iowa. Live coverage will air on Fox.

The NCAA's hottest conference shows no signs of letting up, with the SEC serving college basketball fans two of Thursday's most anticipated top-ranked clashes.

After last week's loss to No. 2 South Carolina and Sunday's low-scoring victory over unranked Texas A&M, No. 7 LSU ready to reclaim their previous firepower by gearing up for an offense-heavy battle with SEC newcomer No. 13 Oklahoma.

The Tigers have only met the Sooners once before, falling in to Oklahoma in a December 2019 matchup. However, head coach Kim Mulkey, who joined LSU in 2021, brings her own experience, tallying a 27-20 record against Oklahoma during her time at Baylor.

Both teams enter Thursday's matchup ranked in the nation's Top 3 for rebounding and Top 6 for scoring, with each having a particular penchant for points in transition.

Between LSU scoring leaders Flau'jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow — the nation's top rebounder who also leads the country with 19 double-doubles on the season — Oklahoma will need to lean on both defense and Sooner center Reagan Beers to tame the Tigers.

Don't sleep on Kentucky

Joining the Wildcats one year after leading Virginia Tech to their first-ever Final Four in 2023, No. 12 Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks has taken the once-struggling team to the upper echelons of the SEC table. The Cats are currently in second place alongside LSU and No. 5 Texas, all trailing defending national champs South Carolina.

Much of Kentucky's success rests on star guard — and Virginia Tech transfer — Georgia Amoore, who leads the Wildcats in points, assists, and steals.

The Australian standout will look to defend the Wildcats' undefeated 2024/25 home record — and clinch the program's 500th win at Historic Memorial Coliseum — when No. 22 Alabama visits on Thursday.

How to watch Thursday's Top 25 SEC basketball games

Both of Thursday's ranked SEC matchups tip off at 7 PM ET, when No. 13 Oklahoma takes on No. 7 LSU on ESPN2 while No. 22 Alabama faces No. 12 Kentucky on SECN.

For as long as WNBA superstar Angel Reese can remember, the McDonald's brand has been synonymous with basketball.

And she's not alone. From TV commercials starring NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James to the brand’s involvement in youth basketball, working with McDonald’s has given a generation of athletes a new Wheaties box moment to strive towards.

"My biggest dream was to always be a McDonald's All-American," Reese told Just Women's Sports last week. And while Reese might have missed out on the All-American game as a high schooler due to pandemic-related shutdowns, her first professional alignment with McDonald's might end up being even more significant.

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Next month, Reese will become the first-ever women's basketball player to lend her name to a signature McDonald's meal deal, the Angel Reese Special. Inspired by "Angel's boldly original style and swag," the combo — a Bold BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese plus fries and a drink — this drive-thrus across the country on February 10th. 

Of course, McDonald's partnerships aren't limited to the world of sports. Musical artists and pop culture moguls like Saweetie, Cardi B, Travis Scott, and more have collaborated with the fast food giant in recent years. So it makes perfect sense that Reese, known for balancing a burgeoning pro career with influential projects off the court, is the first women's basketball player to make the leap.

"Obviously I'm a basketball player, but one day the ball will stop, and I always wanted to be more than that," she said. "That's why I try to tap into other things — my podcast, fashion, and everything else. To know I'm listed with some of the [McDonald's] greats obviously is a great feeling."

"It's amazing," she added. "It's bigger than basketball."

Learning from WNBA legends

"Bigger than basketball" has long been Reese's driving ethos. She takes her image very seriously, aiming to show little girls they too can make strides in the business of basketball. But she also wants global audiences to know that women's basketball has always been cutting edge.

"Lisa Leslie, she's been a face, putting on her gloss and makeup for games," Reese said. "Skylar [Diggins-Smith]'s been into fashion, They were wearing Skylar's jerseys — Drake, Wayne. You've got to realize this has been going on."

Entering her second year in the WNBA, the Chicago Sky rookie cherished the opportunity to personally give her role models their flowers.

"You guys helped me get to this point. You guys walked so I can run," she said, referencing the messages she's been able to give icons like Leslie and Diggins-Smith. "I'm doing these things because you guys did it."

Reese is currently starring for Rose BC, one of the six teams making up Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball's inaugural season. In Miami, she has a front-row seat to how established WNBA stars handle their personal brands, both on and off the court.

"It's like a summer camp — I'm learning everything from the vets," she said. "These are like my big sisters here, and I'm just enjoying everything."

Don't knock the hustle

Reese has been grinding non-stop since her senior year at LSU. Her longest break, she noted, only came after she suffered a season-ending wrist fracture playing for Chicago in early September. But the moment she was cleared to play, she moved to Miami and got to work.

Reflecting on her jam-packed 2024, Reese credits the professionals around her for helping her internalize many of the things rookies have to learn on the fly. These growing pains include reshaping ideas about how to eat, recovery, skill work, and avoiding burnout by taking time for yourself.

"There's no better time than now," she said emphatically. "I'm getting better because I'm around pros literally every single day."

"I think people forget that sometimes, that basketball has gotten me to being this superstar, and that's my main focus," she continues.

The 22-year-old has been in frequent contact with incoming Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh throughout the offseason. She's eager for the Sky to compete in the free agency market, putting together a core that can carry the team for years to come — some of which came early in reports of the signing of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot.

The ultimate goal is making the 2025 playoffs, before launching a deep postseason run.

McDonald's deal is just the beginning for Reese

Between sponsorship opportunities, Unrivaled, and the WNBA, Reese's life is a juggling act. But she trusts that by continuing to grow on the court, everything else will fall into place. Like her McDonald's deal, she's always thinking about the bigger picture.

"I want somebody to be able to go to McDonald's and get a cup with Angel Reese's face on it. Like, who doesn't want to do that?" she said with a laugh. "Even with some of my other things I have going on — going in the store and getting my cereal box, small things like that — it should always be accessible."

"Women should be accessible," she emphasized. "We should be easy to see. We can turn on TNT every single night here and watch Unrivaled — this is what we deserve."