LSU star guard Flau’jae Johnson has formally determined to return to school for her senior yr, bypassing the 2025 WNBA Draft. Johnson hopes to guide the Tigers additional than the Elite Eight, the place their season led to a nail-biting 72-65 defeat in opposition to UCLA.
“I really feel like I ain’t actually do nothing, for actual,” Johnson mentioned. “I imply, we going to Elite Eights, however that’s not no success for me. Some individuals must be within the Elite Eight. I don’t need to be in no Elite Eight. I need to be within the Last 4.”
Johnson is coming off a robust season, averaging 18.6 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals in 34 video games performed. She shot an environment friendly 46.8 % from the ground, 38.3 % from past the arc, and 81.0 % from the free throw line.
After elimination within the Elite Eight, Johnson admitted she needed to consider her choices in regards to the path forward, however deliberate to seek the advice of LSU head coach Kim Mulkey and her household earlier than making a ultimate resolution.
„I do not know,“ Johnson remarked following the season’s finish. „Bought to speak to Coach [Kim] Mulkey, speak to my household. I don’t know.“
Flau’jae Johnson Wasn’t Glad with Elite Eight Run
In her announcement, Johnson expressed a robust need to guide her group to the heights of school basketball, an ambition that goes past private accolades. Regardless of ending with 28 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals, and two blocks in opposition to UCLA, the Tigers have been unable to return out on prime.
„This wasn’t the way it was supposed to finish, not for us,“ Johnson defined. „I need to come again and end what we began. Not simply to get to the Last 4 however to win all of it. That’s the aim.“
Regardless of profitable a nationwide championship with LSU in 2023, Johnson is motivated to guide a title run as one of many outstanding leaders on the group.
„As soon as I style the nationwide championship an increasing number of,“ Johnson mentioned. „I really feel like that nationwide championship I’ve, yeah, I used to be a giant consider it, however there have been greater components. I need my very own one, what I am saying? The place I lead the group. That is what you actually need.“
Kim Mulkey Feels ‚Without end Indebted‘ to Flau’jae Johnson
Since stepping in as a starter instantly since arriving in Baton Rouge, Johnson has remained an integral aspect of Mulkey’s plans.
“I had not coached and gained something at LSU,” Mulkey mentioned, “and (Johnson) got here to LSU. So, she jumpstarted our program, actually. After which the portal helped us. We introduced in Angel (Reese) and plenty of different gamers. However Flau’jae was a highschool All-American, and we bought her. So, I am ceaselessly indebted to Flau’jae Johnson.”
„I am ceaselessly indebted to Flau’Jae Johnson.“ 💜
Kim Mulkey mirrored on all that Flau’Jae has meant to the LSU WBB program 🙏 pic.twitter.com/e7hFz44VoJ
— Yahoo Sports activities (@YahooSports) March 30, 2025
Johnson admitted that she feels able to compete within the WNBA. She was eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft since she is ready to show 22 in November and meets the {qualifications} to be draft eligible through the present cycle.
„How I really feel if I am prepared or not,“ Johnson mentioned. „I do really feel like I am prepared. However it’s additionally like household, my mother, , she’s my agent. However simply speaking with coach Mulkey and my mother to see what I’ll do.“
Coming off a First-Staff All-SEC season, Johnson can have the possibility to guide LSU subsequent season in a outstanding function as soon as once more. Nonetheless, the group should consider its supporting forged, contemplating Aneesah Morrow entered the WNBA Draft and Sa’Myah Smith entered the switch portal.
Grant Afseth is a contributor to BallisLife, overlaying males’s and girls’s basketball. He presently resides within the Dallas space, usually overlaying the Dallas Mavericks, Wings, and extra.
