We’re just weeks away from another electric W season, and the buzz is already off the charts! At the heart of all the chatter is Paige Bueckers, who is finally stepping into the big leagues after closing out her UConn chapter with a fairytale end. Dallas’ new Luka Doncic is ready to get to work. “There’s a lot of new in this organization, so to be a part of something and build with each other and just create a new sisterhood, I’m really excited,” she said.  But it’s not just fans who are excited–players are keeping tabs too. And Flau’jae Johnson? She might just be stirring the pot with plans that could test her sisterhood with none other than the Bayou Barbie!

The LSU star created headlines when she announced her decision to stay with the Lady Tigers for another year instead of heading into the draft like her teammate Aneesah Morrow. “I definitely want to win, but I want to make sure I’m being developed to be the player that I want to be in the WNBA,” Flau’jae said. But as it stands, she’s definitely going to be spotted courtside, cheering on a few familiar faces in the W this summer!

On her Best of Both Worlds with Flau’jae podcast, the LSU star answered a fan question about whether she’ll be attending WNBA games this year–and let’s just say, her response definitely stirred the pot. “You know I got to.. go to a lot of games. I got to go see Neese (Aneesah Morrow), I got to go to Atlanta Dream, I got to see Paige,” she said.

Aneesah Morrow was LSU’s best player this season, averaging a dominant 20.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Alongside Flau’jae, the duo powered the Tigers to a strong 12-4 finish in SEC play, eventually making it all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Many believe that if Morrow had been fully healthy, LSU might’ve punched their ticket to the Final Four–and possibly set up a long-awaited clash with Paige Bueckers and UConn, a matchup that hasn’t happened since 2016. But sadly, it just wasn’t meant to be!

It’s no shocker that Flau’jae Johnson will be courtside for Connecticut Sun games this year, cheering on her former teammate Aneesah Morrow. It is also not a surprise that she will be there to watch the talk of the country Paige hoop. But what did raise eyebrows was the noticeable omission of a certain name–Angel Reese. Despite winning a national championship together, Flau’jae didn’t mention her former teammate!

Sure, you could argue that Flau’jae was just mentioning players from this year’s draft class–but the truth is, we don’t really know. What will be interesting to see is whether she shows up courtside to watch the Chicago Sky play this season. So far, there’s been no real sign of a fallout between her and Angel Reese, so maybe there’s nothing to read into–or maybe we just have to wait and watch!

While questions swirl around Flau’jae and Angel’s bond, one thing’s for sure–Paige is completely focused on her next chapter. She understands that for a franchise to truly thrive, it takes more than just talent. It takes players lifting each other up and growing together!

Paige Bueckers ready to ‘Build off each other’

Looking ahead, Bueckers is without a doubt the centerpiece for the Dallas Wings. Her blend of skill and charisma turned her into a fan favorite at UConn. And now, she looks primed to take that same energy and make the Wings a powerhouse again. But she knows she can’t do it alone. And she has veteran support to guide her!

The likes of Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris and NaLyssa Smith will certainly prove to be worthy mentors for Paige and her fellow rookies, Aziaha James and Madison Scott. Together, they can create something special. For Bueckers, it has always been the people above results.

“I’m not really huge on metric but just the people, the culture … Dallas becoming a place where everybody wants to play and everyone who is here wants to stay,” Bueckers said when asked what could be a marker for the team’s success this season. “So just building a foundation of really enjoying being around each other, enjoying playing together, enjoying being together off the court, on the court, in all aspects.”

There’s no question this is still Arike Ogunbowale’s team, but all eyes will be on Paige every time she steps on the floor. How she bonds with the squad and carves her own path will be one of the season’s biggest storylines. It’s easy to see why Flau’jae might be more drawn to watching Paige and the Wings than pulling up for a Sky game. Can you even blame her?