When Seattle Storm rookie Flau’jae Johnson was drafted eighth overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, there was one person in her corner who had been preparing for that moment longer than anyone else her mom, Kia Johnson. What makes their story particularly compelling is not just the closeness of their bond, but the remarkable pivot Kia made to get them both here.
Before she was negotiating NIL deals and sitting in on major brand meetings, Kia, 43, was working as a dental hygienist and raising five children largely on her own. There was no roadmap, no industry background and no guarantee that any of it would work. What she had was an unshakeable belief in her daughter and a drive to do whatever it took.
When Flau’jae, now 22, first expressed interest in pursuing rap, Kia stepped in as her manager almost instinctively. As that music career began to grow eventually leading to collaborations with artists including Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg Kia started digging into the world of professional basketball just as deeply, studying the draft process and building an understanding of what it would take to turn her daughter’s athletic talent into a sustainable career.
A single mom who learned to hustle early
Kia’s business instincts did not appear overnight. As a single mother of five, she was long accustomed to creating opportunities out of necessity. A regular paycheck covered the basics, but the kids’ activities required more. She started making custom gift baskets and selling home-cooked dinners whatever kept things moving. That same energy is what she eventually poured into Flau’jae’s career.
Her children include son Tray, 26, as well as Nixon, 9, Aythan, 2, and 6 year old Aydin, who is already developing his own passion for rap. Flau’jae’s father was killed in a shooting before she was born, and Kia raised her family with a determination that her daughter says has always been visible.
Flau’jae describes her mom as someone who shows up every single time, in every room, for every meeting without hesitation. Watching Kia close deals calmly and confidently during video calls made Flau’jae realize her mother had found something she was genuinely built for.
Learning to text her daughter and email her client
Managing a daughter who is also a professional athlete and recording artist comes with a unique set of challenges. For a while, Kia admits the lines between her two roles blurred in ways that created friction. There was a moment when she threatened to take Flau’jae’s phone over a social media post a response that Flau’jae quickly pointed out was a mom move, not a manager move.
That conversation became a turning point. Kia developed a practical system to keep the roles separate, she texts her daughter and emails her client. It sounds simple, but it has made a real difference in how they communicate and how each conversation is framed before it even begins.
The approach reflects a broader awareness Kia has developed about when Flau’jae needs guidance as a professional and when she simply needs her mother.
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Starting a new chapter 2,000 miles from home
As Flau’jae settles into her first WNBA season in Seattle, Kia remains in Atlanta a distance that would test most parent child relationships. But by all accounts, the two have found a rhythm. They talk most days, and Flau’jae makes a point to call in not just for business check ins but to catch glimpses of her younger brothers heading to practice.
Kia, for her part, has been intentional about giving Flau’jae space to grow into this new chapter independently. The calls have become less frequent on Kia’s end not out of distance, but out of trust.
Flau’jae, who recently launched a year long partnership with e.l.f. Cosmetics, has credited her mom as the visionary behind her brand at every turn. For Kia, the most meaningful measure of success is not the deals closed or the draft position it is the expression on her daughter’s face every time they connect on a call.
That smile, Kia says, makes every mile between them worth it.
EXCLUSIVE : PEOPLE
