Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
- Flau'Jae Johnson: Averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, ranking second among 2026 rookies.
- Set franchise records for the Seattle Storm: first rookie to score 500 points and make 50 three-pointers.
- Passed Sue Bird for the most 20-point games by a rookie in franchise history.
- Drafted No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries, traded to the Seattle Storm; fifth on LSU's scoring list, won national title under Kim Mulkey.
Updated Sept. 30, 2026, 4:58 p.m. CT
The AP named Flau’Jae Johnson to its WNBA All-Rookie team on Sunday. The former LSU women’s basketball star made a statement in her first professional season after an impressive four-year run in Baton Rouge.
Johnson averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, ranking second among 2026 rookies. The Seattle Storm guard finished among the top five among rookies with 626 points, 202 rebounds, 123 assists, 58 steals and 29 blocks. She turned in a well-rounded first year of professional basketball.
Johnson set multiple franchise records for the Storm, one of the WNBA’s most historic franchises. She is the team’s first rookie to score 500 points and make 50 3-pointers. She also passed Sue Bird with the most 20-point games by a rookie.
The Golden State Valkyries drafted Johnson at No. 8 overall in 2026 before trading her to the Storm on draft night. She finished fifth on LSU’s all-time scoring list with 2,063 points and won a national championship as a freshman starter under coach Kim Mulkey.
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