LSU Tigers star Flau’Jae Johnson made one thing clear about her decision regarding the 2025 WNBA Draft. For her, she wants to “win,” and thus her decision to postpone going to the ranks of the pros for now.
One of the biggest decisions for Flau’Jae Johnson following the LSU Tiger’s Elite Eight elimination was the question of whether she would declare for the 2025 WNBA draft or not. She has one year of remaining NCAA eligibility, but at the same time, she is also already eligible to declare for the WNBA.
Ultimately, Johnson decided to stay with LSU for one more season. In one episode of her podcast “Best of Both Worlds,” Johnson explained her decision to not sprint her way to the pro league just yet.
“As far as the draft, I thought about it but I’m like, you know I’m not, first of all, not trying to go out on an L,” she said. “And second of all, you got to think about the CBA and all of that. Third, I want to try to win like I want to go out on a win, and it’s just like, I know I could develop more like I’m a great player, and I can’t turn it on and off, you know what I’m saying?”
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a crucial factor in shaping WNBA draft contracts because it determines the salary scale, revenue sharing, and benefits for players. With the current CBA set to expire next season, ongoing negotiations between the league and players’ union could lead to significant changes in rookie-scale contracts and overall compensation.
While this year’s draft contracts remain under the existing terms, the outcome of these talks could redefine financial opportunities for future players, making the CBA a pivotal element in the league’s evolution.
Flau’Jae Johnson Credits LSU Head Coach for WNBA Decision
During the same podcast episode, Flau’Jae Johnson admitted that she already knew to herself that she would ultimately not declare for this year’s WNBA Draft, following LSU’s loss in the NCAA Tournament. However, she also credited head coach Kim Mulkey for helping her stay firm on that decision.
“I talked to coach Mulkey, and we just had a real conversation,” she said. “I told her some real stuff of how I’ve been feeling. I think that conversation really helped us and see what we both see in how I can make this year my best year. But, it’s crazy out here.”
Flau’Jae Johnson had an impressive 2024-25 season with LSU. She averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
