Flau’jae Johnson’s WNBA Draft Decision Looms Amidst NCAA Tournament Run
LSU junior guard Flau’jae Johnson faces a pivotal career decision as the Tigers embark on their NCAA Tournament journey: declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft or return for her senior year. johnson, a key player for LSU, must make her choice by March 31, or within 48 hours of the team’s elimination from the tournament.
WNBA Draft Eligibility: A Unique Possibility
Unlike most collegiate stars who must complete four seasons before WNBA eligibility, Johnson qualifies for the 2025 draft due to a league rule. Players turning 22 in the calendar year are eligible regardless of remaining NCAA eligibility. Johnson will turn 22 in November, granting her this option to forgo her final year at LSU.
Johnson’s Focus: Championship First, Decision Later
Despite the looming decision and the opportunity ahead, Johnson remains focused on the immediate goal: winning a national championship with LSU. “I haven’t really thought about the draft,” Johnson saeid.”Kind of just focusing on trying to win this championship. I’m just waiting on God to tell me what to do, for real. I haven’t really thought about it.”
The Challenges of Cracking the WNBA Roster
The WNBA presents a competitive landscape for incoming rookies. While the addition of the Golden State Valkyries expands the draft pool,securing a roster spot remains a challenge. Only 12 prospects are selected in the first round, with the remaining draftees battling for limited positions against fellow rookies and seasoned veterans. Earning a spot on a WNBA team is hard with a very limited number of 144 roster spots available.
Guard-Heavy Draft Pool & Johnson’s Potential Fit
If Johnson declares, she enters a draft potentially saturated with talented guards. A recent mock draft indicated a high concentration of guards and wings in the first round. A team could select Johnson around the same spot of the fellow LSU teammate Aneesah Morrow, but only if she declares.
All-American Recognition and Recent Performance
johnson’s impressive performance earned her a spot on the Associated Press third-team All-american squad.Over the season, she has averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and demonstrated her defensive capability as a top perimeter defender. A shin injury briefly hampered her performance towards the regular season’s end, but she returned with a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, scoring a game-high 22 points.
LSU’s Tournament Path and Draft Timeline
LSU’s first-round victory has set the stage for a second-round matchup.johnson’s draft decision looms closer, with the WNBA Draft scheduled for April 14.
What are teh key factors, besides the WNBA Draft eligibility, that Flau’jae Johnson likely considered when weighing her options to stay at LSU for her senior year or enter the draft?
Flau’jae Johnson’s WNBA Draft Decision Looms amidst NCAA Tournament Run
LSU junior guard Flau’jae Johnson faces a pivotal career decision as the Tigers embark on their NCAA Tournament journey: declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft or return for her senior year. johnson, a key player for LSU, must make her choice by March 31, or within 48 hours of the team’s elimination from the tournament.
WNBA Draft Eligibility: A Unique Possibility
Unlike most collegiate stars who must complete four seasons before WNBA eligibility, Johnson qualifies for the 2025 draft due to a league rule. Players turning 22 in the calendar year are eligible regardless of remaining NCAA eligibility. Johnson will turn 22 in November, granting her this option to forgo her final year at LSU.
Johnson’s Focus: championship First, Decision later
Despite the looming decision and the opportunity ahead, Johnson remains focused on the immediate goal: winning a national championship with LSU. “I haven’t really thought about the draft,” Johnson saeid.”Kind of just focusing on trying to win this championship. I’m just waiting on God to tell me what to do, for real. I haven’t really thought about it.”
The Challenges of Cracking the WNBA Roster
The WNBA presents a competitive landscape for incoming rookies. While the addition of the Golden State Valkyries expands the draft pool, securing a roster spot remains a challenge. Only 12 prospects are selected in the first round,with the remaining draftees battling for limited positions against fellow rookies and seasoned veterans. earning a spot on a WNBA team is hard with a very limited number of 144 roster spots available.
Guard-Heavy Draft Pool & Johnson’s Potential Fit
If Johnson declares, she enters a draft possibly saturated with talented guards. A recent mock draft indicated a high concentration of guards and wings in the first round. A team could select Johnson around the same spot of the fellow LSU teammate Aneesah Morrow, but only if she declares.
All-American Recognition and Recent performance
Johnson’s notable performance earned her a spot on the Associated Press third-team All-american squad.Over the season, she has averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and demonstrated her defensive capability as a top perimeter defender. A shin injury briefly hampered her performance towards the regular season’s end, but she returned with a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament’s first round, scoring a game-high 22 points.
LSU’s Tournament Path and Draft Timeline
LSU’s first-round victory has set the stage for a second-round matchup. johnson’s draft decision looms closer,with the WNBA Draft scheduled for April 14.
Q&A: Decoding Flau’jae Johnson’s WNBA Draft Decision
Q: Why is Flau’jae Johnson eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft despite being a junior?
A: Johnson turns 22 in November 2024. WNBA rules state that players turning 22 in the draft year are eligible, regardless of their remaining college eligibility. This is a key factor in her decision.
Q: When does Johnson have to make her draft decision?
A: Johnson must declare for the draft by March 31st, 2025, or within 48 hours of LSU’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament, whichever comes first. This means her tournament performance directly impacts her decision timeline.
Q: What are the challenges of making the WNBA?
A: The WNBA is highly competitive. With only 144 roster spots available across the league and only 12 first-round draft picks, Johnson will compete with other draftees and seasoned veterans for limited positions.
Q: How has Johnson performed recently?
A: Johnson is an Associated Press third-team All-American, averaging 19.0 points and 5.7 rebounds this season. She also demonstrated her defensive prowess. She also had an impressive showing in the first round of the NCAA tournament,scoring 22 points!
Q: What is the importance of a “guard-heavy” draft pool?
A: If Johnson declares,she’ll be competing with many other talented guards for spots on WNBA rosters. This could potentially affect where she is drafted. It makes it crucial for her to stand out.
Q: What are the Golden State valkyries, and how do they affect the draft?
A: The Golden State Valkyries are a new WNBA expansion team. Their entry into the league expands the draft pool, meaning more players are drafted. This could slightly increase the chances of a player making a team.
The pressure is on! Flau’jae Johnson’s decision will considerably shape her future. Follow her journey through the NCAA Tournament to see if she stays or goes.
