Championship DNA is not something you can recruit, nor is it something you can lose when a player departs. It’s something that’s woven into the very fabric of a team’s identity. And for the LSU Tigers, that DNA is about to be put to the test. With the departure of star player Angel Reese to the WNBA, the Tigers are at the crossroads of uncertainty. But as they prepare to take on the 2024-2025 season, one thing is clear: this team is more than ready to roar.

The LSU Tigers’ women’s basketball team cemented their legacy with the 2023 Championship title, with Angel Reese leading the charge. Though they fell short in 2024, Reese remained a cornerstone. Now, as they embark on a new season, the Tigers have to prove their mettle without Reese. Yet, Flau’jae Johnson, with the calm confidence of her teammate, seems utterly unfazed by the challenge.

In the latest episode of her podcast, “Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae,” the LSU guard sat down with Aneesah Morrow, diving headfirst into the most burning question of the season: how has the team’s dynamic shifted without Angel Reese? Morrow’s response was a breath of fresh air, filled with optimism and enthusiasm. “We’re more of a team coach team…..able to stay poised within those and we’re able to lean on one another and that’s kind of the difference from this team and last”. 

Johnson doubled down on Morrow’s assessment, shedding light on the team culture that is now embracing the freedom to err. She further said, “we all trying to get to the same goal that’s why I feel like the chemistry is so different this year”. But the real mic-drop moment came when Flau’jae turned her attention to the elephant in the room. With a confident smile, she signed Morrow as the new force to be reckoned with. “I think when Angel left they was like they was like oh they going to miss that post present nah n the Beast came and, and turned up!“

Nees the beast! Indeed. In an interview with the New York Post, after nodding to Angel Reese’s incredible rebounding skills, Johnson turned the conversation to her teammate’s impressive ascension. “My teammate Aneesah Morrow, she came and kind of took Angel’s spot and put up Angel numbers. 20 and 20 and stuff like that,” Johnson pointed out. The stats themselves tell the story: Reese’s historic 2022-23 campaign was marked by 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Fast forward to this season, and Morrow is dominating the paint with 18.6 points and a nation-leading 14.2 rebounds per game.

Patting her teammates’ backs, Johnson is walking the talk, embodying the leadership qualities that Mulkey has come to expect from her top players.

Why Kim Mulkey is smiling despite the obvious concerns

LSU Coach Kim Mulkey has seen her fair share of talented players, but there’s something special about Flau’jae Johnson. Mulkey’s calm demeanor, even in the wake of Angel Reese’s departure, speaks volumes about her confidence in Johnson’s abilities. “I don’t think there was any pressure, even when Angel was here. Each kid has just got a different personality… it might not be in comparison to Angel, but the personalities just kind of rise to the top when they get comfortable,” Mulkey has admitted positively. 

Johnson, the junior guard, has taken Mulkey’s words to heart. As the new team captain, she’s embracing her role with unwavering enthusiasm. “Yeah, the spotlight will be on me,” Johnson acknowledged in an interview with the New York Post. “But that’s why basketball is a team sport. I have to lead them. I’m the captain… I want to build my team up because I want to do something special at LSU.”

On her podcast, Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae, Johnson shared her four goals for the season: “To be consistent, to be a good defender, to get more in my bag, and to like leave my team um I think you know my role is different now and you know I have to be a leader and I have to be consistent in that so that’s what I’m really trying to do..” Her voice resonated with conviction as she drove home her point, “I have high, high, high expectations from me.”

As Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow lead the charge, the LSU Tigers are set to unleash a new era of dominance. With every pass, every shot, and every rebound, the Tigers will prove that their legacy is more than just a memory.