How WNBA Star Flau'jae Johnson and Her Mom Kia Balance Their Relationship as Client and Manager (Exclusive)

Flau'jae Johnson and her mom Kia Credit: Flau'jae Johnson NEED TO KNOW Flau'jae Johnson opens up to PEOPLE about her relationship with her mom, Kia, who is also her manager Kia also tells PEOPLE how she navigates the balance between being a manager and a mom The mother-daughter duo are excited to embrace Flau'jae's next chapter in the WNBA Seattle Storm rookie Flau'jae Johnson and her mom, Kia, are making moves. The eighth overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, 22-year-old Flau'jae has been about business since birth, according to Kia, 43, who manages her daughter's basketball and rap career. "When Flau'jae was born, she had this serious mug on her face.

Literally, I'm looking at this baby like, 'Is she going to smile? ' She was looking like she's going to take over the world," Kia tells PEOPLE. That unstoppable mindset is something Flau'jae likely acquired from "go-getter" Kia, a single mom to five kids.

"She always shows up, and I don't even know how she does it," says Flau'jae, whose father was killed in a shooting before she was born. Flau'jae Johnson and her mom Kia Credit: Flau'jae Johnson Although Kia didn't have experience in talent management, she has long "been this business savvy mom. " "I've always had to make my way because the normal check just didn't do it," Kia tells PEOPLE.

"It paid the bills, but all the activities that they wanted to be a part of, I needed two more jobs, literally. " She got creative in making custom gift baskets and home-cooked dinners. "I've always been a hustler," says Kia, who, in addition to Flau'jae, is a mom to sons Tray, 26, Nixon, 9, Aythan, 2, and 6-year-old Aydin, an aspiring rapper.