Flau’jae Johnson was all charged during the LSU Tigers’ 93-77 win against Kara Lawson’s Duke Blue Devils, but it had less to do with the game. Lawson’s decision to bench Johnson during the summer USA Basketball tournament in favor of Hannah Hidalgo and Mikayla Blakes had never fully healed. And now, Kim Mulkey revealed that the fourth-quarter outburst was months of bottled-up frustration finally breaking through.

Johnson’s 18-point game, in which he made 7 of 11 shots, covered deep heartbreak. The game on Thursday was her chance to show the coach, who didn’t believe in her, that she could do it.

“I was happy for Flau’jae. She didn’t have a good experience at USA Basketball with Kara this summer. She’s had this date circled around the calendar, and you get nervous because you think she’s gonna try to come in here and do too much. Flau’jae lost a lot of confidence this summer. I was proud of how she handled herself,” Kim Mulkey stated how Lawson’s decisions as a coach have hurt Johnson’s confidence.

During the FIBA tournament, Lawson put Flau’jae Johnson on the bench for Blake, Hidalgo, and Miles. This decision took away the All-American’s chance to show her skills on the international stage, where she usually gets a lot of respect. Johnson’s 18 points on 7 of 11 shooting against Duke showed that Mulkey’s worries were well-founded.

The outcry was expected, but Johnson managed to handle the pressure. Apart from scoring points, she added 5 rebounds and 4 assists while staying calm, showing that her game hadn’t been permanently derailed by the loss of confidence. Apart from breaking past the past wound, Johnson helped the Tigers stay afloat in their streak while handling Duke’s fourth straight loss.

The LSU Tigers are 9-0 this season, but things did look a bit shaky as Lawson was desperate to come out of the losing streak. The Tigers did miss the 100+ points stat sheet by 7 points, a unique record that only Mulkey owns (eight), but the way the team fought back for the win reflects why they are one of the contenders. The depth, back-court literally pushed Lawson’s side out, leading Mulkey to say, “It’s the LSU brand.”

Why did Johnson stay back at LSU despite a WNBA chance?

Flau’jae Johnson never seriously considered leaving LSU. Kim Mulkey told ESPN, “I never worried about it. I knew the quality of person and family that I signed, and she wanted that college degree. And she’s not going to leave somewhere where she’s got unfinished business.” For Johnson, that unfinished business mattered too much to walk away from.

Johnson admitted she didn’t want her college career ending on a loss she didn’t have to accept. “I didn’t want to go out on a loss when I didn’t have to,” she said. “If I have another year, why not try to go out as a champion?” That mindset made her decision feel less like a return and more like a responsibility. She also spoke openly about what LSU means to her.

“I owe it to LSU. I owe it to Baton Rouge,” Johnson said, acknowledging the connection she feels to the program and the community. In an era when players often move quickly, her willingness to stay reflects a deeper commitment than most. What truly defines her choice is loyalty.

“A lot of players don’t stay four years anymore. I’m loyal to the soil,” Johnson said. Can the 9-0 win, and this mentality give LSU the ending Johnson believes it deserves?