The dog days of the season may finally be over for the Seattle Storm. After enduring a miserable, franchise-record 11-game skid, the Storm finally bounced back with a 99-88 win over the New York Liberty on Thursday. Rookie Flau’jae Johnson played a major role in the win, delivering a monster performance.
Johnson scored a career-high 28 points while adding nine rebounds and two assists. The night meant even more to Johnson because one of her favorite players, Breanna Stewart, was watching from the Liberty bench.
Stewart did not play in the game. After the win, Johnson shared a heartfelt moment with the two-time WNBA MVP. The Storm posted photos on Instagram of Johnson posing with Stewart and getting her shoes signed.
It is also worth noting that both players are signed with Puma, and Stewart has served as a mentor to Johnson since her college days.
Johnson was 11-of-23 from the field and knocked down 4-of-10 3-pointers. She will be hoping to continue that hot streak when she faces her former college teammate Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
Flau’jae Johnson Is a Bright Spot in Dark Storm Stretch, Paves Own Path Like Breanna Stewart
Everyone is well aware of Breanna Stewart’s history with Seattle, where she played six seasons before moving to the New York Liberty. Flau’jae Johnson, meanwhile, is paving her own path.
She was drafted with the No. 8 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft by the Golden State Valkyries before getting traded to the Seattle Storm on draft night.
The 22-year-old rookie was the lone bright spot during the team’s brutal losing skid. She is averaging 11.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while starting in all 18 games.
She has broken out in a big way for the Storm and cemented herself as a key part of their ongoing rebuild. Johnson is currently tied with Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts for third place on the rookie scoring leaderboard.
There is no question that Johnson is having an impressive breakout year for the Storm. The young guard should only get better as she continues to gain experience, and it will be fascinating to see how her career unfolds in Seattle.
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