LSU star’s surprising 2026 WNBA Draft admission highlights rookie problem

Flau’jae Johnson is poised to enjoy what could end up as a wild ride of a final year with Kim Mulkey and LSU — and that could even culminate with her being drafted at the No. 1 overall pick. While the 2026 draft class is pretty stacked (and many draft predictions have Johnson at the No. 4 or No. 5 overall pick), being drafted as the top rookie is well within Johnson’s reach. But whether it would be worth it is an entirely different story — and it’s one many WNBA rookies are all too familiar with.

That’s something she’s also aware of. While speaking to reporters this week, Johnson agreed it would be an enormous honor to be drafted as the No. 1 pick and noted, “That’s something I don’t think is out of my reach.”

But as quickly as she said that, Johnson admitted that she isn’t quite sold on the prospect. Rather than focus on being named No. 1, Johnson said she’d prefer to be drafted to a team that can properly support her and give her minutes on the floor. That’s not always a guarantee for rookies, who tend to be drafted by teams who have performed poorly during the prior season.

“I want to go somewhere where they want to play me, where they want to develop me, where they see I can be useful to them,” Johnson explained. “So if that I didn’t know where to pay, I want to go where they want me. I don’t want to just go, I’m the one pick and I end up in a situation that I don’t want to be in.”

Flau’jae Johnson could end up on the Chicago Sky

ESPN’s 2026 Draft prediction currently has Johnson in the No. 5 overall spot, which would reunite her with former LSU teammate Angel Reese (unless rumors that Reese wants to leave the team end up having legs).

If Johnson is hoping to land on a team where she could clock minutes, the Sky could end up as a strong home for her — but she might be less pleased if she’s equally focused on facilities available to her and being properly supported from the top down.

Johnson may also have been alluding to the possibility she could get drafted by the Minnesota Lynx. Though the team is a WNBA heavyweight, if Minnesota hangs on to most of their 2025 roster there will likely not be a lot of time for Johnson (or any rookie).