Decision Confirmed:: Johnson opted out of entering the 2025 WNBA draft pool before the deadline, choosing to return to college for the 2025-26 season.
Eligibility Factor:: Despite not completing four college seasons, Johnson was eligible for this year's draft as she turns 22 in November 2025.
Stellar Junior Season:: Johnson averaged career highs of 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, earning third-team All-American honors.
Leadership Goal:: Johnson expressed a desire to win another national championship as a key leader for the Tigers, building on the 2023 title won during her freshman year.
Impact on LSU:: Johnson's return solidifies her role as the team's likely top star, especially with key teammates departing. LSU is expected to remain a top contender.
Why this matters:: Johnson's return significantly impacts the landscape of both college basketball and the upcoming WNBA draft. It bolsters LSU's championship aspirations and keeps a highly influential player, known for her on-court skills and off-court marketability (including NIL deals), in the NCAA spotlight for another season.
Flau’jae Johnson, a 5-foot-10 guard from Georgia, has been a pivotal player for LSU since arriving in Baton Rouge. She was a starter on the Tigers' 2023 national championship team as a freshman and elevated her game further in her junior year, becoming an All-SEC first-team selection and All-American. Her performance peaked in the NCAA tournament, including a 28-point effort in LSU's Elite Eight loss to UCLA.
Despite being a projected lottery pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, Johnson chose to return. While NIL opportunities and her stated goal of leading LSU to another title are factors, delaying her WNBA entry could also be financially strategic, potentially allowing her to enter the league under a more lucrative collective bargaining agreement in the future.
Her return is crucial for LSU, which sees Aneesah Morrow heading to the WNBA and other players potentially leaving via graduation or the transfer portal. Johnson, alongside rising star Mikaylah Williams, will form the core of Coach Kim Mulkey's team, expected to be supplemented by talent from the transfer portal and a top-ranked recruiting class. Johnson's decision ensures LSU remains a major force in women's college basketball for the upcoming season.
Q: Why was Flau’jae Johnson eligible for the WNBA draft before her senior year?
WNBA draft eligibility rules allow players who turn 22 in the calendar year of the draft to declare, even if they haven't completed four years of college eligibility. Johnson turns 22 in November 2025.
Q: What were Johnson's stats in her junior season?
She averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, shooting 46.8% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range.
Q: What does this mean for LSU next season?
Johnson returns as the likely primary star, expected to lead the team alongside Mikaylah Williams. LSU is projected to be a top-10 team and a national title contender.
Star Power Returns:: One of college basketball's most exciting and recognizable players is staying for another year, boosting LSU's prospects and the overall excitement around the NCAA season.
Leadership Ambition:: Johnson's decision highlights her goal to win a championship as the undisputed leader of her team.
NIL Influence:: This move underscores the evolving landscape where significant NIL opportunities can influence a player's decision between college and professional leagues.
WNBA Draft Impact:: Johnson's absence slightly alters the dynamics of the 2025 WNBA draft, removing a potential lottery pick from the pool.
Flau’jae Johnson's return adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming college basketball season. How do you think her decision will impact LSU's championship chances? Will delaying her WNBA entry prove beneficial in the long run?
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Source 1: LSU star Johnson to skip WNBA draft, source says (ESPN, target="_blank")
Source 2: The Athletic (Reporting confirmed the decision)
Source 3: WDSU News (Reported on Johnson returning for senior season)
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