LSU Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson once defended her former teammate, Angel Reese, right after a huge loss that ended their campaign that year. In April 2024, the Tigers lost to their cross-conference rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes, 94-87, in the Elite Eight and were eliminated from postseason play.
During the post-game presser, Johnson was asked about the kind of leadership that Reese imposed on the squad. Sitting beside a visibly emotional Reese, Johnson claimed that the public perception of Reese is false and that the media does not know who she is as a person. In the video posted by Bleacher Report on YouTube, Johnson was also seen wiping Reese’s tears.
“Bro, let me tell you something. Everybody could have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her. Like y’all don’t know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese. I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring, loving person. Bro, the crown she wears is heavy, bro. She’s the type of teammate that’s going to make you believe in yourself,” Johnson said (0:13).
The 2023-24 Tigers, coached by Kim Mulkey, finished with an overall record of 31-6 (13-3 SEC), as they were also defeated by coach Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, 79-72, in the 2024 SEC tournament championship game. Reese was drafted in the WNBA with the seventh overall pick, while Johnson will be uncorking her fourth and likely final year in the 2025-26 campaign.
Read More: Kim Mulkey Gets Candid on Replacing Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow Ahead of 2025-26 Season
When Flau’jae Johnson Said Angel Reese Helped Her Become A Better Basketball Player
In the same press conference, when Flau’jae Johnson was discussing Angel Reese and her leadership role for the LSU Tigers, the former revealed that the stalwart helped her become a better basketball player. Playing alongside Reese gave Johnson the boost she needed to perform better for the Tigers.
“The leap that I took from my freshman to sophomore year, Angel gave me that confidence to go be a dog, playing next to a dog every day. And, you know, just to see how the media ridicule her…But like, this is my sister right here, and I’m so proud of her. The media, y’all how they like to twist and call her a villain and all of that, y’all don’t know Angel, bro,” Johnson shared (0:45).
“I’m just happy that I get to play with her, I get to be around her presence. Her energy is different. She just makes me a better player, and that’s what great players do,” she concluded.
Also Read: IN PICS: Flau’jae Johnson Poses In Purple Bikini While Recapping Memories From Scenic Bahamas Trip
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