By Chris Marler
LSU star Flau’Jae Johnson has decided to return for her senior season instead of entering the WNBA Draft.
Flau’jae Johnson did not declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft, a source briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic.
College basketball keeps another one of its biggest stars for the 2025-26 season ⤵️https://t.co/iuhIKyedVg pic.twitter.com/I7YgGGUmvR
— The Athletic WBB (@TheAthleticWBB) April 3, 2025
The deadline to declare for the draft was April 2 for players whose teams reached the Elite Eight. LSU will return one of its top players, and the sport will keep one of its biggest stars for another year.
Johnson was a 1st team All-SEC and third-team All-American this season, averaging over 18 points per game for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers. Despite an already legendary career, there’s still unfinished business for Johnson.
“Not to take away my national championship, but still, I want to do something where I’m one of the leaders on the team,” Johnson said to the media after Sunday’s loss to UCLA.
After LSU’s Elite Eight loss on Sunday, Mulkey expressed her gratitude for Johnson’s first three years in Baton Rouge.
“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. And so, she jump-started our program, really. Then the portal helped us. We brought in Angel (Reese) and lots of players, but Flau’jae was a high school All-American, and we got her. And so, I’m forever indebted to Flau’jae Johnson.”
