After toppling UCLA in the Sweet 16 last season, the LSU Tigers could not get the job done this time around in the Elite 8, falling 72-65 as the Bruins advanced to their first-ever Final Four. Star guard Flau’Jae Johnson turned it up in the closing minutes to try and keep her team in it, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a double-digit deficit. Postgame, a frustrated Johnson spoke about her performance on Sunday and her basketball plans next season.
Flau’Jae Johnson Not Satisfied with Career Night for LSU Tigers
Johnson finished what could be the last game of her college career with a game-high 28 points, including 24 in the second half, going 10-17 from the field and 3-6 on threes. She added 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. She sank shots at critical moments in the fourth quarter as LSU cut the Bruins’ lead to three at the 3:24 mark.
Despite her tremendous effort, she felt she could have done more. “I mean, I did leave it all on the court,” she said, “but it was too late, and it just doesn’t matter. Should have did it earlier. Should have executed better.”
Johnson’s second-half eruption followed a 3-point performance (1-8) against NC State last round. Her 28 total points were a career-best. But she indicated no comfort in her individual achievement.
“I feel like it’s all on me,” Johnson continued. “I can take that because I know I went to another level, and I gave more than I thought I had. I’ve got to be more in attack mode. That’s my fault. Being too passive, I’m done with that.”
Next closest to Johnson’s production was forward Aneesah Morrow, who put up 15 points (7-19) and 7 rebounds. Johnson scored 10 more than UCLA’s leading scorer, Gabriel Jacquez, who had 18. Bruins Center Lauren Betts had 17 points and 6 blocks.
What’s Next for Flau’Jae?
Instead of returning to LSU as a senior, Johnson, a junior, has the option of entering the WNBA draft as she will turn 22 in November, satisfying the minimum age requirement for non-international players with under four years of college.
But she isn’t sure what she will do. “Got to talk to Coach Mulkey, talk to my family. I don’t know.” Before deciding, she will consider all factors involved, reports ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
Like her late father, Johnson is also a rapper. Rap and basketball culture enjoy notable overlap. NBA stars Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant have both produced or been featured in rap tracks. Johnson, a podcaster too, has plenty of talent on her plate, giving her multiple avenues for success alongside basketball.
For the moment, her biggest basketball decision is whether to run it back with LSU and coach Kim Mulkey, with whom she won a championship as a freshman. When she does go pro, she already has an NIL contract with Unrivaled, the three-on-three league that debuted in January 2025. In addition to playing in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky, LSU alum Angel Reese stars as as member of the Rose.
In college, Johnson has been to the Elite 8 every season on teams that have gone a combined 96-14. This season she finished second on the Tigers in scoring at 18.3 PPG, behind Morrow (18.8), who is a senior. With Morrow graduating, and coming off a painful loss oh-so-close to another Final Four, no doubt plenty of LSU fans hope Johnson spends one more year in school.
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