Forbes has unveiled its prestigious 30 Under 30 Class of 2025 List of pioneers from various industries. This year’s honorees include Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin ClarkAnd LSU outstanding Flau’jae Johnson. While the list celebrates extraordinary successes, Angel Reeseone of the most famous names in NCAA basketballShe was conspicuously absent, which left her fans disappointed.
The list, which represents 20 industries, highlights 50 percent of Generation Z and emphasizes this generation’s transformative influence on business and creativity. Forbes 30 under 30 Editor Alexandra York described the honorees as “One of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs and creatives reshaping the way the world does business.”
The addition of Flau’jae Johnson highlights her versatility and marketability. An NCAA athlete who excels on the court, she has seamlessly balanced her rap career and launched a successful podcast with Flau’jae, “The Best of Both Worlds.” Their achievements reflect the evolving opportunities for athletes in the NIL era.

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In contrast, Angel Reese’s absence surprised many, especially given her significant impact on NCAA basketball. Reese’s fans, who had already been vocal about her accomplishments, were disheartened by this omission, especially since her former LSU teammate Flau’jae Johnson was on the list.
To make matters worse, the relationship between Reese and Johnson appears strained. Tensions arose during the 2023-24 season when Reese’s mother, Angel Webb Reese, pointed out a grammatical error made by Kia Brooks, Johnson’s mother. Brooks responded with a comment about Reese’s college grades, which escalated the situation. While the mothers solved the problem, Johnson later admitted on her podcast: “Yeah, me and Angel, we’re not as close as we used to be.”
The divide became clearer when the two athletes publicly ignored each other in discussions. Johnson didn’t mention Reese among LSU’s top stars, while Reese praised another teammate, Aneesah Morrow, as her current favorite player. Fans also took note of recent comments from Johnson’s mother. When a fan named Johnson LSU’s best player, Kia Brooks noted: “When you have everything on both ends, it’s definitely a conversation.” which many saw as a dig at Reese.
While Reese’s exclusion from the Forbes list caused a stir, the Class of 2025 boasts an impressive lineup. In addition to Tatum, Clark and Johnson, the list also includes rapper Shaboozey, actress Kathryn Newton, TikTok creator Drew Afualo and the Miami twins Haley and Hanna Cavinder, co-founders of Cavinder Twins LLC. The honorees collectively reflect a generation of innovative leaders, with the Class of 2025 raising over $3.6 billion in funding and amassing a combined 300 million social media followers.
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As fans of Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson react to the developments, the ongoing tension between the two athletes adds an interesting subplot to this year’s Forbes list. Whether their paths will cross again professionally or personally remains to be seen, but their influence in basketball and beyond is undeniable.