Flau’jae Johnson isn’t done with college basketball just yet. The LSU guard is returning for her senior season in Baton Rouge, keeping the WNBA on hold for another year under head coach Kim Mulkey. As Johnson doubles down on her future at LSU, she’s also doubling down on protecting her squad. This year, the spotlight is bigger, the roster is deeper, and Johnson is standing guard both on and off the court.
Why Did Flau’jae Johnson Publicly Defend Her Teammates?
The drama started when LSU’s official women’s basketball page dropped a playful clip captioned, “Behind The Scenes 🎬.” The video showed the Tigers’ 2025–26 roster goofing off during photoshoots. It was a harmless reel, but some fans saw it as an invitation to ask questions about players’ private lives. That’s when Johnson had to step in.
On her Instagram story, the senior guard posted the reel and wrote, “ooouuu all my teammates pressure and no they not single we’re married to basketball !!! STAY OUT THEM DMS.” Johnson made it clear that her teammates are here to hoop, not to entertain curious DMs.
It’s not hard to see why Johnson is so protective. Amid transfer portal and eligibility issues, LSU lost five of its forwards and centers, which makes Johnson’s leadership crucial as she anchors the team this season. She is coming off a junior campaign that saw her average 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and she also crossed the 1,000-career-point mark.
In March, Johnson dropped a career-high 28 points against UCLA in the Elite Eight, scoring 24 of them in the second half alone. With numbers like that, Johnson carries the locker room. Despite losing key players like Aneesah Morrow to the Connecticut Sun and Sa’Myah Smith, Last-Tear Poa, and Aalyah Del Rosario to the transfer portal, Mulkey has rebuilt her team effectively.
Mikaylah Williams, the junior guard who averaged 17.3 points per game, will anchor the team alongside Johnson. During the 2024-25 season, Williams led LSU with 124 total assists and set a career-high with eight assists against Florida in the SEC Tournament. Additionally, the team added MiLaysia Fulwiley, a transfer from Dawn Staley’s South Carolina.
With Staley’s squad, Fulwiley averaged 11.7 points off the bench and was named SEC Sixth Woman of the Year. The Tigers also have names like Grace Knox, Bella Hines, and ZaKiyah Johnson on their roster. Add in Jada Richard and Amiya Joyner, and suddenly, LSU looks like a squad that should not be messed with.
So when Flau’jae Johnson tells fans to chill, it is as much about defending her teammates as it is about setting the tone for the season. LSU’s roster is here to compete, not to answer sideline questions about who’s single and who’s not. With a formidable trio in Johnson, Williams, and Fulwiley leading the way, the Tigers have a strong foundation.
If you surround them with size in Kate Koval and depth across the bench, the Tigers have all the pieces to chase March glory again. Based on the behind-the-scenes video, they sure look ready to take on that challenge.