Flau’jae Johnson made history at the 2026 WNBA Draft, becoming the first player from Savannah, Georgia, to be selected, capping off a standout college career with a night that quickly took an unexpected turn.
The former LSU star was initially selected eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries, marking another milestone for the program’s growing presence at the professional level. Within an hour, however, Flau’jae was on the move, traded to the Seattle Storm in a deal that sent Marta Suarez and a 2028 second-round pick to Golden State.
Her selection continues a strong pipeline from LSU to the WNBA, as Flau’jae becomes the 10th player in program history to be drafted in the first round. It also marks the third consecutive year a Tiger has achieved that distinction, following Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, who were both selected seventh overall in 2024 and 2025.
Flau’jae’s journey to this moment began with an immediate impact at LSU. As a freshman during the 2022–23 season, she played a key role in leading the Tigers to the program’s first national championship. In the title game against Iowa, she delivered a well-rounded performance with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, helping secure the historic win.
Over the next three seasons, LSU remained a consistent force in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight twice and the Sweet 16 once. Flau’jae appeared in 141 games during her college career, starting 139 of them, and averaged 14.6 points per game while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field. She also contributed 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, underscoring her all-around presence on the court.
Her most productive season came in 2024–25, when she averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. In her final year, she averaged 14.2 points and became the sixth player in LSU history to surpass 2,000 career points. She was also part of a high-powered offense that averaged 95 points per game, setting a Southeastern Conference record, and contributed to a season that included 16 games with at least 100 points, an NCAA Division I record.
Flau’jae’s performance earned her multiple honors throughout her college career, including SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023, All-SEC selections across multiple seasons, and All-America recognition. Beyond basketball, she was also recognized for her impact off the court, earning the inaugural Kay Yow Servant Leader of the Year Award and a spot on the 2026 SEC Community Service Team.
Away from the game, Flau’jae has built a parallel career in music. She signed a distribution deal with Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z, and has performed her original work on national platforms, including America’s Got Talent.
