March Madness ended in pain for the LSU Tigers—after getting knocked out of the run by the overall number 1 seed of the big dance, the UCLA Bruins. Following the loss of both Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith, they couldn’t build on last season’s Elite 8 run. But things were worse for star guard Flau’jae Johnson. She was expected to take the team even further this year. While she made a leap in her own performances from last season, it wasn’t enough. Injuries kept her from reaching her full potential. As a result, the Tigers’ championship dreams were crushed.

Last year was unforgettable for Flau’jae. She proved just how good she could be in the big dance. In Round 1 against Rice, she dropped 14 points. In Round 2 against Middle Tennessee, she scored 21. Then, she put up 24 against UCLA in the Sweet 16. But that was it for the LSU Tigers.

In a heartbreaking loss to Iowa in the Elite 8, Flau’jae finished with 23. She had firmly cemented herself as the next big star for the Lady Tigers. With Bayou Barbie, Angel Reese moving on to the WNBA, Flau’jae was set to be the face of the program for the next season. The future looked bright. She definitely built on that promise by averaging close to 19 points and 6 rebounds, but when it mattered, Flau’jae struggled due to injuries.

Flau’jae took to her YouTube channel to share her frustrations about this year’s Big Dance. She said, “This March Madness taught me a lot. Last year, I had a great March Madness. This year, it was decent, you know what I’m saying? I feel like it was decent, but it taught me a lot, you know. Just coming in injured and then having to be a leader for the team, taking on that role, and I just learned so much… It makes you put everything in perspective about basketball.”

Looking back, Flau’jae was dealing with a painful shin inflammation, which forced Kim Mulkey to sit her out during the SEC tournament. The result? A tough loss to Texas in the semifinals. But that wasn’t the end of her troubles. In the round of 16 against NC State, disaster struck again. Flau’jae injured her eye and was reportedly “seeing double.” She struggled through the game, shooting just 1-8 from the field and only scoring 3 points before the injury got worse in the fourth quarter.

Despite the pain, Flau’jae showed her leadership qualities by coaching her teammates from the sidelines. She wasn’t going to let her injury stop her from supporting the team. She came back for the Elite 8 showdown against UCLA. Flau’jae was a force, scoring 28 points in a brilliant performance. Unfortunately, even her stellar performance couldn’t push the Tigers across the finish line. Her biggest regret. This was a big learning for her—one which she will use to come back even stronger next season.

Speaking about next season, Flau’jae has confirmed that she’ll be returning for one last ride with the Lady Tigers next season. Let’s see what she has to say about it.

Flau’jae Johnson to return to Baton Rouge for another year

Kim Mulkey and her squad entered the offseason already dealing with the departure of star forward Aneesah Morrow, who’s heading to the WNBA draft. To make matters worse, forwards Sa’Myah Smith, Aalyah Del Rosario, and guard Last-Tear Poa all decided to enter the transfer portal. There was speculation about Flau’jae following suit and going to the draft, but it looks like she’s made her decision to stay and lead the Tigers for one more season!

“There was a lot of talk about me going into the draft. I thought about it, but first of all, I’m not trying to go out on an L, second of all, you have to think about the CBA, third, I want to try to win. I know I can develop more,” said the star guard. “I’m a great player, but I can’t turn it on and off. I love the WNBA but I don’t think it’s time yet. I talked to coach Mulkey and we had a real conversation about how things are going and that really helped us see what we both think and how I can make this year my best year.”

The Tigers have made a major move by bringing in Notre Dame freshman forward Kate Koval, and fans are buzzing with excitement about the potential of Koval and Flau’jae Johnson working together. It’s still unclear if the Tigers will be able to mount a serious challenge next season, but Flau’jae will definitely be looking to leave on a high and end her illustrious LSU career with another championship.