“One more year, one more year!” If you’ve been around college hoops long enough, you know that chant hits differently. It’s the universal plea every fan yells during the last home game when their favorite star still has eligibility left. And that chant echoed loud and proud at Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where—by the way—Flau’Jae Johnson led the win. Since then, the vibe lately in Baton Rouge is nervous. Real nervous.
You know, Aneesah Morrow is going pro. Sa’Myah Smith and Last-Tear Poa hit the transfer portal. Tigers fans were on the edge, praying this wasn’t a full-on exodus. No one wanted a Notre Dame 2.0 situation. And just when it felt like the sky might fall, Johnson dropped the best news they could’ve hoped for: she’s staying. Yes, Big 4 is coming back for her senior season at LSU.
Remember after LSU’s heartbreaking 72–65 loss to UCLA in the Elite Eight? Johnson was still unsure of what was next. “I don’t know,” she said. “Got to talk to Coach Mulkey, talk to my family. I don’t know.” Well, now she knows—and so do we. She’s not entering the WNBA Draft. She’s not packing her bags. She’s not done with college hoops just yet. In case you’re wondering how she was eligible as a junior—it’s because the Tigers star turns 22 in November.
And if you’re a senior or turning 22 in the same year, you can go pro. And with LSU’s season ending on Sunday, she had until Tuesday at midnight to let the league know. That clock ticked down… and she chose purple and gold. Now, why’d she stay? Well, let’s break it down.
NEWS: Flau’jae Johnson will forgo the WNBA Draft and return for her final year of eligibility, a source tells The Athletic. pic.twitter.com/24RP1iWj5f
— I talk hoops (@trendyhoopstars) April 3, 2025
First off, there’s the money. WNBA rookie salaries are expected to jump in 2026 thanks to the new CBA. A 2025 rookie is around $78,000. But a year later, we could be talking six figures. Waiting just might pay off—literally. Second, she’s got time to level up physically. Big 4 is already a beast—athletic, explosive, crazy skilled—but adding a little more strength could be the final piece before she takes over at the next level.
And then there’s unfinished business. She was a freshman when LSU won it all in 2023. That team wasn’t “hers.” Now, she wants her ring. Her legacy. Her squad’s title run. But the biggest reason everyone agrees on? Yes, it’s NIL. We know that this woman is a brand. Baller. Rapper. Business. Her NIL value is sitting at $1.5M, per On3. That’s more than several WNBA players earn. And fans didn’t miss that.
One posted, “She’ll make more money with NIL in one year than a decade in the WNBA.” Another said, “Stay in college, get the bag. It’s simple math.” So yes, the WNBA might’ve taken the L on this one. But LSU just got their MVP back and if you ask fans, Mulkey must thank NIL.
The post Everyone is Saying the Same Thing About Flau’Jae Johnson’s Major LSU Announcement as WNBA Becomes the Victim appeared first on EssentiallySports.