March Madness is right around the corner, but for LSU Tigers fans, the journey to the NCAA Tournament just hit a bump in the road. Junior guard Flau’Jae Johnson, one of the team’s most electrifying players, will not be suiting up for the SEC Tournament due to inflammation in her right shin.
Flau’Jae Johnson’s Injury Timeline
The decision for junior guard Flau’Jae Johnson to miss the SEC Tournament came after she was held out of LSU’s regular-season finale, a game they dropped to Ole Miss, 85-77. With the postseason looming, head coach Kim Mulkey has opted to prioritize her star player’s health over immediate success.
LSU’s head coach, Kim Mulkey, announced Johnson’s absence, confirming that the First-Team All-SEC selection would be sidelined for the conference tournament.
Johnson, who leads the team with an impressive 18.9 points per game, was spotted in a walking boot as her teammates warmed up for the Ole Miss matchup. Despite the precautions taken, Mulkey emphasized that the decision to rest was not imposed by medical staff but rather a strategic move to ensure her full recovery.
Kim Mulkey explains her decision to sit Flau’jae Johnson through the SEC Tournament: #LSU pic.twitter.com/Cpwvu7AVVz
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) March 2, 2025
“I sat Flau’Jae,” Mulkey said. “The doctor didn’t tell her she had to sit. The trainer didn’t tell her she had to sit.”
Johnson’s struggles began on Feb. 16 with discomfort in her right shin that persisted over the following games. Two days later, LSU faced Texas in a tough 65-58 loss, a game that marked the beginning of Johnson’s noticeable decline in performance.
Even though she continued to play, logging at least 31 minutes in each of the next four matchups, the effects of the injury became evident. During LSU’s overtime loss to Alabama on Feb. 29, Johnson had one of her worst performances of the season, shooting just 2-of-12 from the field and finishing with a season-low six points.
LSU’s SEC Tournament Hopes Without Their Leading Scorer
LSU enters the SEC Tournament as the third seed and benefits from a double bye, meaning its first game will be in the quarterfinals on Friday.
However, with Johnson officially ruled out, the Tigers will have to navigate the tournament without their best scorer. Mulkey remains confident that LSU’s resume is strong enough to secure a favorable seeding for the NCAA Tournament, regardless of their conference tournament performance.
“I feel like no matter what happens there, we’ve earned the right to host here,” Mulkey stated.
“Whether we’re a two seed, three seed, or four seed, the most important thing is to get her healthy before the NCAA Tournament begins. Rest is the best thing for it. I have a lot of confidence that she’ll be ready to go,” Mulkey said.
Her decision reflects a long-term vision, one that prioritizes LSU’s national championship aspirations over immediate conference success. Given that the NCAA Tournament begins in less than two weeks, Johnson has just under two weeks to recover before LSU’s first-round game.
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“I don’t feel like anything we do in the conference tournament, even if we lost both games, will affect us hosting here,” Mulkey added. “We have a great body of work, and Flau’Jae will be back.”
While LSU’s depth will be tested in the SEC Tournament, all eyes will remain on Johnson’s recovery ahead of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are expected to be one of the top seeds in the bracket, and with Johnson’s return, they could be a formidable force in the postseason.
For now, the Tigers will need to rally without their star, hoping to gain momentum before the biggest stage in college basketball. If Johnson makes a full recovery in time for the NCAA Tournament, LSU’s championship hopes will remain alive.
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