Flau'jae Johnson update: Return to LSU not certainty after forgoing 2025 WNBA Draft

After LSU’s Elite 8 loss to UCLA, Flau’jae Johnson had 48 hours to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft, per league rules. That deadline came and went, and Johnson opted to use her final year of eligibility.

When it comes to her future at the college level, she could either return to LSU or explore new opportunities in the transfer portal before the window closes, a source told On3. The women’s basketball transfer portal window closes April 23.

The Athletic first reported Johnson’s decision not to declare for the WNBA Draft. Although she just completed her junior season, she could have declared because she turns 22 during the 2025 calendar year. The deadline to officially declare for the draft was March 31, but because LSU was still competing in the NCAA Tournament, Johnson had extra time to make her decision.

According to league rules, players have 48 hours following their final game in the tournament. Johnson did not declare, which means she’s in line to return to college basketball for her senior season.

Flau’jae Johnson coming off huge junior season

As a junior in 2023-24, Flau’jae Johnson put together the best year of her career to date. She averaged a career-high 18.6 points while adding 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists to help LSU to the Elite Eight despite missing the SEC Tournament due to a leg injury.

By not declaring for this year’s WNBA Draft, Johnson’s rookie year would line up with a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement. Salaries are expected to increase as a result of a new CBA, which led to questions about other big names’ decisions. One of them – Notre Dame star Olivia Miles, who was projected as the No. 2 pick by ESPN’s Michael Voepel last week – decided to forgo the draft and enter the transfer portal.

Johnson is also one of the biggest names in women’s basketball and is a pioneer in the NIL space. She has an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.5 million, which ranks No. 1 in the college women’s basketball NIL rankings and No. 2 in the On3 Women’s NIL 100. That figure also sits at No. 59 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and de facto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

In addition to her talents on the basketball court, Johnson is also an accomplished rap artist. She signed an NIL deal with Roc Nation and released her first album last year, which included a collaboration with Lil Wayne. Johnson also has notable NIL deals with JBL Audio and Mondelēz.

In addition, Johnson became an equity partner with the new Unrivaled basketball league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. It was part of an NIL deal with the league, and Johnson provided content throughout the season.