Once a dynamic duo leading the LSU Tigers to a national championship, Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson’s close friendship has taken a surprising turn since Reese’s transition to the WNBA. The pair enjoyed a strong bond during their two years together on the court at Louisiana, but it appears that a dispute between their families has sown seeds of a drift between them. Numerous incidents have hinted at their growing divide. Now, when Johnson hosted her 21st birthday party, it only clarifies that the ties don’t remain as strong.

This Sunday, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson celebrated her 21st birthday in style, and her social media posts gave fans a sneak peek into the festivities. She shared vibrant Instagram stories that showcased details from the impressive 5-tier cake and the Johnson-personalized game cards to the friends who gathered to celebrate her special day.

Johnson radiated excitement at her birthday bash, rocking a stunning see-through sparkly gown as she celebrated with friends. She even shared the love by reposting birthday wishes from her pals on Instagram. Among the well-wishers were LSU’s Mikaylah Williams and Mjracle Sheppard, but it was surprising to see that Angel Reese, the star player for the Chicago Sky, didn’t join in on the birthday cheer this year, nor did she make an appearance in any of the birthday highlights.

Just last year, Reese made a special effort to wish Johnson well, posting a TikTok video and an Instagram story that read, “Let’s keep winning!” But now her absence from Johnson’s birthday bash and not even lending a wish online indicates that the tensions are probably real, and they have been avoiding contact with each other ever since their beef started with their family’s involvement initially.

What sparked tensions between Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson?

“Yeah, Angel and I aren’t as close as we used to be,” Flau’jae Johnson admitted last month, reflecting on her evolving relationship with Angel Reese. The shift in their friendship appears to stem from a heated exchange between their mothers. It all started when Reese’s mom highlighted some grammatical errors made by Kia Brooks, Johnson’s mother. In a quick comeback, Brooks retaliated by bringing Reese into the discussion, referencing her academic challenges while at LSU.

The growing divide between Flau’jae Johnson and Angel Reese became even clearer when Johnson didn’t mention Reese during a episode of her podcast, where she shared her top five LSU graduates. This omission highlighted the changes in their friendship. In reaction, Reese made her feelings known as well. While sharing her enthusiasm for the upcoming NCAA season, she named Aneesah Morrow as her favorite LSU player to watch, clearly overlooking Johnson in the process.

Additionally, Johnson is looking to step into the leadership role that Reese once held at LSU. When discussing her goals for the season, she made it clear that she aspires to be a team leader, a quality that head coach Kim Mulkey previously praised in Angel Reese. While it’s uncertain if Johnson and Reese can repair their complicated relationship down the line, Johnson fully focuses on starting her NCAA campaign, which kicks off just a day after her birthday, on November 4th against Eastern Kentucky.