The Lady Tigers kicked off their NCAA season with a powerful statement, dominating Eastern Kentucky with a stunning 95-44 victory. While Kim Mulkey’s squad showcased a strong team effort, with four players scoring in double digits, Flau’jae Johnson led the charge by tallying the most points in the game. However, head coach Kim Mulkey seems still unsatisfied as she believes it’s time for Johnson, now in her junior year, to step into a leadership role on the team.

In the postgame press conference, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey faced questions about Flau’jae Johnson’s evolving role on the team, particularly regarding her impressive scoring ability in the paint. Despite that, Mulkey was quick to challenge the label of “main scorer,” emphasizing that the scoring dynamics can vary from game to game and different players may step up. She didn’t stop there; Mulkey shared her specific expectations for Johnson.

“She’s been in the system, this is her third year now. So it’s not like she has to think a whole lot out there, just go play. And what I’d like to see her be is more of a vocal leader. I’d like to see her stand out that when a fan goes into an arena, you see talent, but you also go ‘oh those kids have leadership abilities,'” mentioned Mulkey. Johnson has played two seasons with LSU and has been instrumental since her fresher year. She averaged 11 points in the season, which led to LSU winning its first championship.

In her junior season opener against Kentucky, Flau’jae Johnson showcased her scoring prowess, dropping 25 points on an impressive 10 of 15 shooting. Along with her scoring, she contributed five rebounds and two assists, leading the Tigers to victory. However, as LSU head coach Kim Mulkey still envisions Johnson evolving into a leadership role, she has expressed a desire to step into that position this season, suggesting that it may only be a matter of time before she fully embraces her potential as a leader on the court.

Kim Mulkey might see Flau’jae Johnson standing on her expectations soon

Flau’jae Johnson has been a key player for LSU over the last two seasons, regularly ranking among the team’s top three scorers. However, the top scorer title has typically gone to Angel Reese during her time in Baton Rouge. Now that Reese has moved on, Johnson is poised to take on that leading role, especially since she is eager to step up and claim it for herself.

“Four goals that I have for myself is 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. I have high high high expectations from me,” Johnson recently shared about her aspirations for the upcoming season.

Her desire to step into that leading role could stem from Kim Mulkey’s previous praise for former LSU star Angel Reese’s leadership qualities during her time in the purple and gold. Johnson’s relationship with Reese has strained over time, so she may feel motivated to take on Reese’s status within the team. With Mulkey encouraging her to embrace this responsibility, fans might soon witness Johnson emerging as LSU’s vocal leader. After all, her impressive 25-point performance is just a glimpse of what’s coming.