Imago
LSU player Flau’Jae Johnson is interviewed during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
Imago
LSU player Flau’Jae Johnson is interviewed during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
The lights dimmed, the crowd roared, and anticipation buzzed through the OTE Arena in Atlanta. It is the summer of 2025, and the Overtime Select Takeover is all set to showcase the nation’s top young female basketball talents. Leading the charge were two collegiate stars: LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and USC’s JuJu Watkins, each coaching a team of elite high school players. For Johnson, this was more than just a game—it was a shot at redemption after a narrow loss to Paige Bueckers’ team the previous year. But as the final buzzer sounded, it wasn’t just defeat that stung—it was the feeling of being wronged.
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In the aftermath, Johnson didn’t mince words. Taking to X, she expressed her frustration: “I love my team, can’t play 5v8 (terrible refs) I’m hurt I’m devastated #consideringretirement”
Her comment about “5v8” was a pointed jab at the officiating, suggesting that the three referees were effectively playing for Team JuJu.
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I love my team, can’t play 5v8 (terrible refs) I’m hurt
I’m devastated #consideringretirement— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) June 7, 2025
Throughout the game, several contentious calls fueled Johnson’s ire. While both sides had their share of controversial whistles, one third-quarter sequence stood out. During a tense possession between GG Banks and Sanaiyah Hall, the latter’s suffocating defense forced Banks into what appeared to be both a double dribble and a travel—clear infractions that were immediately pointed out by commentators Nia Symone and KK Arnold. Yet, the officials let the play continue.
Later, in the fourth quarter, Johnson was visibly frustrated when no foul was called on Kaleena Smith after she contested a layup attempt by Trinity Jones. Johnson’s protests fell on deaf ears once again, deepening her sense that the game was slipping out of reach not just because of play, but because of officiating.
In total, 13 fouls were called on Team Flau compared to 17 on Team JuJu, but despite the numbers, it was Team JuJu who dominated where it mattered most—on the scoreboard. Final score: 5–1.
Despite these setbacks, the game wasn’t without its moments of levity. After the final whistle, Watkins approached Johnson, offering a handshake and saying, “Hey bro, good game bro.” Johnson, with a touch of sarcasm, replied, “Good game bro, good game bro. I am JuJu, I win everything.”
Their exchange, though tinged with frustration, highlighted the mutual respect and competitive spirit that defines the Overtime Select experience.
The Overtime Select league, launched in 2024, has rapidly become a premier platform for young female basketball players aged 15–18. With eight teams, the league offers regular-season games, playoffs, and the marquee “Takeover” event, where college stars like Johnson and Watkins mentor the next generation. It’s a space where talent meets opportunity, and where the future of women’s basketball is being shaped.
For Johnson, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, made even harder by the sting of last year’s narrow defeat to Bueckers’ squad. But if one thing remains clear, it’s this: the heart of a champion keeps beating, even in the face of heartbreak.
Flau’jae’s Passion Drives Her “Overtime Select” Game
Wanna know why? Because Flau’jae is overflowing with passion for the sport.
This isn’t just a game for her—it’s a blazing fire and a powerful symbol of what basketball can mean for young women today. Speaking on the rise of women’s hoops and her role in the Overtime Select league, she told Sports Illustrated: “For them to be able to reap the benefits of how big women’s basketball is becoming, it’s dope,” Johnson said.
She went on to explain what the league means to her personally: “I didn’t have this opportunity, you know what I’m saying? To be on such a stage, and it’s because they’re such elite players. Just seeing all the good things that they’re getting, seeing how the rise of women’s basketball is affecting them. Three years ago, this league would never [have] happened, four or five years ago, six years ago.”
And that’s exactly why she’s coaching young teams in Overtime Select right now—driven by that same fiery passion. Want to truly get her vibe? Just listen to her March 2025 hit single “What It Takes,” made in collaboration with Powerade—an anthem about hustle and heart.
“Dreams I gotta chase ’em
My failures I just embrace ’em
My fans I gotta grace ’em
It just come with some patience”
“As an athlete and an artist, I know success isn’t just about talent—it’s about what you do when no one’s watching.”
That’s why she’s pouring everything into helping the next generation get a leg up.
Flau’jae Johnson is the face of a new generation of athletes—multifaceted, passionate, and fiercely committed to elevating women’s basketball while telling their own stories. Her journey with Overtime Select isn’t just about winning; it’s about creating opportunities and inspiring those who follow. Because for Flau’jae, basketball isn’t just a game. It’s a lifestyle. Passion, purpose, and perseverance all rolled into one. And no loss—no matter how bitter—can ever dim that flame.
Written by
Edited by
Shivatmika Manvi