2 weeks Ago By Andrew Gamble
Flau’jae Johnson is still deciding whether to return to LSU or declare for the WNBA Draft following the Tigers’ March Madness exit. On Sunday, LSU crashed out of the 2025 NCAA Tournament by falling 72-65 to No. 1 UCLA in the Elite Eight.
UCLA rode the hot hand of Gabriela Jaquez, whose 18 points helped the Bruins secure a first Final Four appearance in the history of the women’s basketball program. UCLA led for large stretches of the game and at one point led by 14 before LSU roared back. The Tigers, led by Johnson ’s 28 points and four assists despite her injury issues , brought the score to within a single possession in the fourth quarter before UCLA pulled away late.
After the game, Johnson was emotional as she spoke to reporters. Her future going forward isn’t clear, despite the loss; she could forego her senior season in Baton Rouge and declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft, or return to LSU for one more season. Johnson is set to discuss her future with LSU coach Kim Mulkey , as well as her family, before ultimately making her decision.
The 21-year-old is eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft, which takes place next month. After Sunday's agonizing defeat, Mulkey was quizzed about Johnson's impact on the Tigers' program given it could be her final appearance in purple-and-gold. The 62-year-old was full of praise for the junior and suggested she was the catalyst for the program’s incredible run over the last few seasons - which includes the 2023 national championship win.
“Well, I remember when I took the LSU job, Flau’jae Johnson was the first McDonald's All-American that I signed at LSU,” Mulkey said. “I had not coached and won anything at LSU, and she came to LSU. So she jump-started our program, really.
And then the portal helped us. We brought in Angel and lots of other players. “But Flau’jae was a high school All-American and we got her.
So I'm forever indebted to Flau’jae Johnson. I think she told you - the game was lost in the second quarter. That's where the game was lost.
We didn't capitalize on [Lauren] Betts being off the floor. And she feels like she was a big part of that not having played up to what she - her standards are for herself in the second quarter. “In the third and fourth quarter, I think she really, really tried.
That's what All-Americans do. They just try to figure out some way to impact the game, and she did. She did.
” Johnson has spent three seasons at LSU and won the national championship as a freshman. For the 2024-25 campaign, she averaged 18.6 points, 5.
6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, UCLA will face the winner of USC and UConn in the Final Four on Friday, April 4.
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