Kim Mulkey has turned LSU’s women’s basketball team into a perennial championship contender. Now, with Angel Reese gone, junior Flau’jae Johnson is stepping up to take the lead. Reese’s impact helped drive LSU to their first-ever National title in 2023 and an Elite Eight finish in 2024. But Johnson isn’t tackling the season alone—she’s gaining key insights from this two-time WNBA champ as she gets ready for the challenges ahead.

In the latest episode of Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae, Las Vegas Aces superstar Chelsea Gray shared her insights on leadership. “Everybody says the communication is huge, but I think the biggest thing is how you communicate to each person is totally different,” Gray explained.

“How I communicate with Aj’a might be different than the way I communicate with Jackie. The best leaders find a way to communicate and resonate with a bunch of different types of people. You don’t lead the same way every single time and every season. You have the core values and the things that you talk about. I’m very vocal,” the 3x WNBA champion added. The 32-year-old, who ranks 8th in the all-time Assist leaderboard, discussed her difficulties in learning about leading a team like the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA.

In fact, the “point gawd“, who has only been with the Aces for four seasons, would give sage advice to Johnson in the podcast while remarking, “I’ll take the middle of the time out and be like, ‘No, this is not how we’re supposed to be running it.’ That’s been me. That’s been consistent, so it’s not anything new. If they’re running a play wrong, you see me yelling and screaming at them. They know what’s coming because that’s the way I’ve been since I got to Vegas. The side conversations, understanding people, and then you understand how people respond, I think is a big thing as well.”

Chelsea Gray’s words might particularly prove relevant for LSU’s No. 4, as she is a guard who recognizes that each teammate may require a different approach to foster trust and motivation, an insight that can be important as she steps up in Reese’s absence.

Gray, who has received high praise from players like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Elena Della Donne, is someone well-known in the WNBA for providing excellent leadership for teams she has played with. This makes her someone best suited to advise an upcoming star like Johnson.

With Johnson balancing college studies, basketball commitments, a podcast, and a budding music career, Gray’s sound advice to her on tackling tasks early in the day—is something that comes from experience and just might prove effective for Johnson.

Flau’jae Johnson Takes the Helm at LSU: Leading the Tigers in the absence of Angel Reese

While Johnson’s stepping up to lead, LSU might be a signal of head coach Kim Mulkey’s broader ambition to create a team with some serious longevity. It might also be an effort on her part to prove her worth as the league’s most expensive head coach. Reese, who averaged 18.6 points and 13 rebounds per game last season (2023-24), is undeniably missed by the Tigers and fans alike.

Although Mulkey has led the Tigers to constant victories, Mulkey has led the team to new heights and breathtaking NCAA championship wins, such as in the 2022-2023 season. Reese’s departure has also left Mulkey trusting Johnson as a key piece in her team strategy.

Hence, the expectations for Johnson are high, but with the experience gained from last season and Chelsea Gray’s guidance, she seems prepared to embrace this challenge.

Coach Mulkey, who has always been supportive of her players, has also praised Johnson’s development and is optimistic about her potential to lead. In fact, in a previous interview, the LSU head coach stated, “She’s a moral leader, and that kid’s soul is precious. Her heart is joyous, and I’ll support her one hundred and ten percent like I would for any of my players.”

The 2024-25 season starts with LSU fans eagerly waiting to see how Johnson and the team perform as they aim to build on their Elite Eight finish from last season. With Mulkey’s guidance, and Johnson’s rising leadership, the Tigers seem to have a blueprint for a readymade path to victory.

What matters will be, if this specific combination of seasoned coaching, raw talent, and a strong mentorship foundation sets Johnson and LSU up for what could be another memorable season or just another letdown.