“She is fine”. These three lukewarm words were the only form of endorsement Kim Mulkey had to offer for Flau’Jae’s efforts against Texas. The LSU Tigers had been on the cusp of their 26th win, only to see it disappear in the fourth quarter collapse. And Mulkey’s praise was only reserved for LSU’s post players, Aneesha Morrow and Samia Smith.

The coach had a lot to say after the loss, but what stood out to Johnson and cut her deep was what she said about letting the moment slip away. “We were in those games and had opportunities to possibly steal a victory, but we just didn’t get it done,” Mulkey said. The message was clear: when the moment demands it, you must deliver.

Fast forward to the next game and Flau’Jae Johnson was on a mission. With a fierce determination, she unleashed a remarkable performance, dropping 21 points like a hot knife through butter. And then came the jewel in her crown. A jaw-dropping, buzzer-beating three-pointer from nearly 40 feet away that left the crowd gasping in awe.

It was the kind of show LSU fans want to see, but for Flau’Jae it was more than just a great game — it was about redemption. Just a few hours earlier, she had addressed LSU’s challenging loss to Texas, accepting full blame and filling in the gaps Mulkey had left behind.

“Gave that game away,” Flau’Jae said bluntly. “Up double digits in the fourth. We had a film session. Honestly, that loss right there—I have to take full accountability because I was supposed to go into attack mode, and I didn’t. There were a lot of plays where I went back and looked at the film, where my decision-making was poor; my shot selection was poor. ”  

“It just wasn’t an aggressive game for me,” she explained. “I was aggressive in some ways, but not in the ways that I should have been, so I take that L on the chin.”

But who knows what actually goes on in the locker room? Before the Texas game, Johnson was listed as questionable due to some injuries. While she did eventually take to the court, Kim Mulkey‘s few words might also have been an attempt to respect her player’s privacy. Because, of course, everyone was keen to know what the issue actually was, since the injury report didn’t mention anything.

After all, we can’t forget how last January Mulkey had said that Johnson has “more joy in her soul than anybody I have coached.” And, well, she did display that recently. After her words of acceptance on her podcast, she quickly went on to motivate her teammates. Because, guess what? The ball should keep rolling.

Flau’Jae Johnson is leading the charge for LSU

Flau’Jae didn’t let that one misstep define her. Before LSU’s game against Georgia, she became a motivational speaker for her team. “This is a game we should win,” she said firmly. 

But for her, it is not just about the tag of victory. It’s also about establishing momentum and chemistry as the Tigers approach March Madness. “But I believe it’s just a great game for our team and our togetherness. I think that’s the mentality we have to have in March.” 

And wow, did Flau’Jae talk the talk and walk the walk! She exploded right out of the gate against Georgia. With Aneesah Morrow out with injuries, Flau’Jae took on a leading role on the floor. She hit three three-pointers, including the insane buzzer-beater to end the third quarter that sent Tiger fans wild. Using turnovers and offensive rebounds to keep its foot on the gas, LSU ran past Georgia, 79-63, at home.

Now, with March Madness on the horizon, LSU is entering the final stretch of the schedule — and this is where it gets serious. Tigers also have some big matchups ahead, including one against Kentucky, and every win matters when it comes to seeding in the tournament. For Flau’Jae and her teammates, it’s really just about continuing that momentum and staying focused as they gear up for another deep postseason run.

What sets Flau’Jae apart is not only her talent but her capacity to overcome adversity and encourage the people around her. Even if she’s admitting mistakes after Texas or firing up her team before Georgia, she’s demonstrating for everyone what leadership looks like. With March coming up, LSU fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they have a player like Flau’Jae on their team- who not only just talks about bouncing back, but shows it on the court.