Five months ago, LSU took a loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Followed by this loss was the post-game presser where Flau’jae Johnson confronted the reporters while defending Angel Reese and weaved a heartfelt testimonial that brought Reese to tears. In the two years’ time at LSU, Johnson and Reese’s friendship blossomed into a strong sister-like bond to the extent that the two almost became inseparable.

They would hype each other whenever possible, have fun together, and even do a few brand collabs together. However, since Reese’s WNBA draft, the two got busy with their own lives which took them apart from each other. Last week, Angel Reese talked about her BFFs at LSU and described her relationship with the rapper. So, let’s explore what their friendship has been through recently.

Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson speak up on their ‘altered’ friendship

This past week, Angel Reese and her co-host Maya Reese kicked off the conversation on the rookie’s Unapologetically Angel podcast. During their discussion, they came across Reese’s BFF at LSU, Flau’jae Johnson. Giving an assured response, Reese said, “Yeah I still support Flau’jae.” However, she also resorted to the fact that the two are no longer as close as they used to be at LSU.

Since this year’s NCAA season concluded and Reese got drafted, their relationship has become strained. The Sky No. 5 got busy with her rookie season in the W while Johnson started building up the bond with her new teammates. Hence, their daily routine of seeing each other and being under the same roof changed.

“People always expect us to like still be posting each other and stuff like that but we aren’t as close and I mean it happens, you don’t have the best relationships for everybody and don’t always continue relationships with people,” Reese reasoned.

But then again, she said, “I wish her the best always I’m always going to support her I’m going back to LSU soon just to be able to see them and support the girls but yeah there’s no love lost,” re-assuring that all is not lost during these past few months, rather just an effect of distance and time between them.

On the other hand, it’s Johnson, who recently shared her side of things with her former LSU teammate. While nodding off to Reese’s upcoming visit to LSU, the junior Lady Tiger resonated with the Sky rookie and said, “Yeah, me and Angel, we ain’t as close as we used to be, but like, I still support her a thousand percent.”

“I was proud of her, like, just being in the W and breaking records. A lot of people said that she wouldn’t go to the W and do all those things, and they kind of hated on her. But I kind of knew that, because I have seen it every day in practice. I have seen the mentality that she has. So, it’s been dope,” Johnson told the New York Post.

But there have been several moments when the two showcased their special bond.

A look at the besties of Baton Rouge

There is a lot of dust dwindling in the air related to their current status. However, their friendship isn’t that weak. One moment is when Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson did a collab with Amazon for a commercial together. In that video, the two looked through the products they ordered for their dorm rooms while coming up with funny jabs about each other’s purchases. As a result, the duo cracked up the fans with their humorous banter.

Their friendship was visible in celebration after LSU advanced to the Sweet 16 and the two promoted Johnson’s new single at the post-game presser, prompting people to stream her new single It Ain’t My Fault, with Reese singing along, “It’s out everywhere. Get out ya feelings. Get a bag.”

Then, Johnson described her feelings during the 2024 WNBA draft when Reese was called up to the stage. She described her emotions from that moment as if she was on cloud nine, standing next to the seventh-overall pick. She expressed, “I was so proud of her, I told her congratulations. I was so happy for her.”

Not only this, but Johnson also exemplified their friendship with Reese when she stood up for her in the press conference after LSU lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight, attributing Reese for instilling that confidence in her when she leaped from being a freshman to a sophomore.

She also resorted to say that the media twisted the facts and painted Angel Reese as a negative figure and added that they don’t know the real Angel Reese, while she weaved a heartfelt testimonial for the then-LSU senior, tearing up the LSU alum. If that’s not true friendship, then what is?

So, if they simply get the chance to reconnect, they just might take up things right where they left off.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger