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Johnson's Revenge: FIBA Summer Burn Fuels Tigers' Win
9 Dec
Summary
- Johnson cited limited playing time under Lawson with Team USA.
- Mulkey helped Johnson rebuild confidence after the experience.
- Johnson excelled for LSU after her Team USA disappointment.
Flau'jae Johnson's standout performance for LSU against Duke followed a summer experience with Team USA that left her questioning her role. Johnson, who competed under Kara Lawson for the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, initially posted positively but later shared emotional vlogs detailing her disappointment with limited playing time. This experience significantly impacted her confidence.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey noted Johnson's "hurt" and worked to restore her confidence for the college season. Johnson has since thrived, leading LSU's offense and achieving career-best shooting percentages. Her performance against Duke, where she scored 18 points, was highlighted by Mulkey as a display of Johnson's resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Following the game, Johnson took to social media to clarify her stance, emphasizing her respect for Lawson while acknowledging the competitive intensity. Lawson, who is slated to coach the U.S. women's basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, described her coaching experience with the AmeriCup team as positive and praised the players' efforts.
