2 months ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
Flau’jae Johnson’s profession stands retired not only for her on-court accomplishments but for defying nan transfer-heavy scenery of nan modern NIL era successful assemblage sports.
More than 4 years ago, Johnson committed to LSU. Fast-forward to 2026, and she's ne'er near nan schoolhouse wherever she first enrolled. Her ties to nan Southeastern Conference powerhouse tally truthful heavy she buried her beloved pet, a bearded dragon named Four successful a motion to her jersey number, connected nan Baton Rouge campus.
On Friday, Johnson will return nan tribunal for nan last clip successful a Tigers' jersey arsenic she concludes her prolific assemblage hoops career.
But erstwhile LSU tips disconnected against 15th-seeded Jacksonville successful nan first information of nan NCAA Tournament, Johnson’s different bearded dragon, Champ, will beryllium pinch her — successful tone astatine nan very least.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Flau'jae Johnson and nan LSU Tigers return connected nan Tennessee Lady Vols Feb. 26, 2026, astatine nan Pete Maravich Assembly Center successful Baton Rouge, La. (Scott Clause/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Most of Johnson’s teammates would apt for illustration to debar nan reptile. But LSU defender Izzy Besselman, a adjacent friend of Johnson, has been tricked into opening a handbasket she thought was quiet but really contained nan bearded dragon.
Johnson is contemplating bringing Champ to nan gym for believe sessions, noting immoderate of her teammates bring on their dogs.
LSU STAR FLAU'JAE JOHNSON SAYS UNRIVALED LEAGUE 'CHANGING THE GAME' AS SHE JOINS IN NIL PARTNERSHIP
Nevertheless, pinch her last tally connected nan horizon, Johnson said she’s embracing nan situation ahead, nary matter really acold LSU advances.
"March is ever a bully month," she told reporters during nan SEC Tournament. "I emotion March. The point is, this is erstwhile everyone’s nan astir focused, and you conscionable sewage to trust connected your work."
Johnson, who is besides a signaling creator and is signed to Roc Nation, has a greeting regular that includes watching crippled movie pinch her coach and fitting successful workouts extracurricular squad practices. Several brands person besides collaborated pinch Johnson, and she makes clip to fulfill commitments associated pinch those deals.
Besselman noted Johnson's expertise to bring retired nan champion successful her teammates.
"Seeing really difficult she useful motivates maine and everybody other successful this locker room," Besselman told Yahoo Sports. "It's a bully personification to look up to."
Flau'jae Johnson of nan LSU Tigers successful action against nan Tulane Green Wave astatine nan Pete Maravich Assembly Center successful Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 20, 2024. (Reagan Cotten/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)
Johnson’s coach, Kim Mulkey, is known for her "tough love" approach, a style that has produced results pinch 3 nationalist titles astatine Baylor and different astatine LSU. Johnson said Mulkey helped style her into a much businesslike and yet amended player.
"It could beryllium easier to spell into nan transportation portal, spell to a squad pinch a unspeakable grounds and mean 30," Johnson said. "I could do that. I did that successful precocious school. You cognize what I’m saying? College is not overmuch different.
"But I want to play pinch All-Americans. I want to play pinch a reliable coach who won championships. I want to play pinch group truthful I tin study really to beryllium efficient. I want to play successful positions wherever it’s not favorable for maine and still travel retired connected top. For me, it’s much so, I for illustration to do nan difficult stuff."
LSU Tigers women's hoops subordinate Flau'jae Johnson speaks during "The Money Game" world premiere astatine Pete Maravich Assembly Center Sept. 4, 2024, successful Baton Rouge, La. (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)
Johnson is connected way to compete successful Unrivaled arsenic soon arsenic adjacent twelvemonth aft already signing an NIL woody pinch nan women’s 3-on-3 league.
Mulkey said she believes Johnson is 1 of nan champion athletes to person played astatine LSU successful portion because of her philanthropy, but besides for what she did for nan program’s trajectory.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"She took a chance connected LSU erstwhile what did we person to sell?" Mulkey said connected elder night. "We conscionable sewage here, and she was nan first McDonald’s All-American that I signed astatine LSU. The communicative connected Flau’jae will beryllium each those things I conscionable mentioned, but nan top communicative of each to maine is she stayed 4 years astatine LSU and will graduate.
"When you deliberation of assemblage athletics now, group don’t do it anymore. And she loves LSU, and, successful return, LSU embraced her and loved her back."
LSU earned a No. 2 seed successful this year's women's hoops Division I tournament. The Tigers will play successful nan Sacramento regional.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
