Now that a rematch is on the cards, everyone remembers what went down last year. The past Sweet 16 rivals, UCLA and LSU, are back at it, with a spot in the Final Four up for grabs. Flau’jae Johnson was the standout player last time these two faced off in the big dance. And while UCLA is hungry for redemption, it seems like they did not learn the lesson Johnson gave them then. The good villains love that underdog feeling and hence, poking the Tigers before a crucial matchup is never a smart decision.
It seems like the Bruins are fully pumped at the prospect of facing their old rival. Last year’s sting is still fresh, as Cori Close said, “We definitely didn’t like the way in which we approached our game with LSU last year”. Easy to decipher that they are looking for sweet revenge; however, one of the players is certain that UCLA will be the one walking off the courts with a smirk on their faces. “I’m really happy #LSU won. I’m excited to play against them. It’ll be a good rematch. They’re a great team, I just don’t think they have enough to stop us,” said forward Angela Dugalić.
Now, before we move to why Johnson thinks people should choose their words carefully, let’s talk about why Angela has every right to think that the Bruins are the favorites for the game. The Bruins entered March Madness by becoming the overall number 1 seed. The Big Ten champions came into the tournament with just two losses and have been unstoppable so far. Lauren Betts has been the standout, scoring 71 points in the first three games, and she’ll be looking to keep her hot streak going.
So, we understand why Angela said what she said. But Johnson wants everyone doubting her team to hold up. When asked about the matchup, the star guard issued a warning to UCLA, “Last year we were very motivated um because of an article that came out and their coach’s affiliation with the article, retweeting and stuff like that. They even called us Dirty Debutantes in the article & they were America’s team. We took that personal & the core of us who the article was about, we still here.”
“They even called us Dirty Debutantes in the article & they were America’s team. We took that personal & the core of us who the article was about, we still here.” -Flau’Jae Johnson
LSU vs UCLA Sweet 16 rematch tomorrow afternoon.
@LSUwbkb @Flaujae pic.twitter.com/8NE0HWpkBn
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) March 29, 2025
Here’s the backstory you need: Last year, the LA Times dropped a column written by Ben Bolch, titled ‘UCLA-LSU is America’s sweethearts vs. its basketball villains’. The article also framed LSU as ‘dirty debutantes,’ which had the undertones that didn’t sit well with the team. HC Kim Mulkey called it out post-game, after their 78-69 win, fuming, “It was good versus evil in that game today. Evil? Called us dirty debutantes? Are you kidding me?” The fallout was messy: UCLA’s Cori Close apologized on X for retweeting the piece without reading it fully, and the Times edited it, admitting it didn’t meet their standards. Bolch himself apologized days later, but for Johnson, then a sophomore, it was personal. She torched UCLA for 24 points and 12 rebounds, proving a point that still echoes today. Reflecting on her mindset, she had said, “I wasn’t scared of the moment. I really loved the delight. I love that underdog feeling. Coach Mulkey told me go do what you do, and I did.”
And it seems like that disrespect follows the LSU stars to every season. However, Flau’jae and Co. will be hoping to build on their impressive comeback win against NC State and create an upset against the Bruins. But it won’t be easy.
Kim Mulkey praises UCLA’s best player as Flau’jae and co get ready for their Elite 8 game
The biggest challenge for LSU in this showdown with UCLA? Containing Lauren Betts. If the Bruins’ star catches the ball deep in the paint, it’s game over. Kim Mulkey knows this, and she has nothing but praise for the junior center.
“She is so talented. Just watching her from high school until today, it’s amazing how good she is. Certainly her height is an advantage and we’re not going to grow that tall overnight. But we have to battle and do the best we can. But she’s not all they have. Certainly everything they do goes through her, as it should, but they’re talented at a lot of positions,” said Mulkey.
LSU’s dynamic post duo, Morrow and Smith, will have their hands full trying to contain Betts. But the real key? Staying smart and avoiding foul trouble. One great thing is that Flau’jae Johnson is also fit to play and will be a huge boost for the Tigers. One just cannot sleep on her leadership—hitting 1500 career points against San Diego State, she’s averaging 19.0 points per game this season, sixth in the SEC, shooting 47.4%. In the 2025 tournament’s first round against San Diego State, she returned from a shin injury that sidelined her for the SEC Tournament, grabbing 22 points, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in a 103-48 rout. As the clock ticked down, she yelled, “I’m back!“—a moment that lit up social media. “I told myself when I came back that I wanted to be the energy for the team,” she told ESPN. That fire carried LSU past Florida State in round two, setting up this UCLA grudge match.
It’s going to be a true test for LSU against the number one team in the country, and this game could very well turn into one of the best games of the tournament. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates!
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