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Flau’jae Johnson chose to bypass the 2025 WNBA Draft, citing CBA negotiations as a significant factor in her decision to return for her senior season at LSU. Her choice mirrors a growing pattern among elite prospects who are carefully balancing long-term financial potential against immediate professional entry amid labor uncertainty.
This season, Johnson has intentionally shifted away from her broader superstar profile to concentrate on on-court excellence.
Why Flau’jae Johnson Passed on the 2025 WNBA Draft
Johnson is navigating college basketball at a moment when an athlete’s value extends far beyond box scores. In a recent video conversation, the LSU guard explained how NIL has reshaped both opportunity and leverage for players, particularly in women’s sports.
She described the shift as a result of athletes finally being able to show who they are publicly, on and off the floor.
“With the whirlwind of NIL, with the whirlwind of just players being able to now show their personalities on and off the court,” Johnson said, crediting social media for helping fans connect with players’ lives and personal styles.
That visibility, she added, has fueled the rapid rise of women’s sports and created true star power.
That broader context directly influenced her choice to step away from the 2025 WNBA Draft. Johnson confirmed that labor uncertainty played a decisive role, specifically pointing to ongoing negotiations between the league and its players.
“This year they’re negotiating the CBA, so they’re bargaining about payment and other things like that,” she said.
Johnson explained that the lack of clarity around those talks made waiting the smarter option. “I’m good in college. I’m making a lot of money,” she said, adding that concerns about instability mattered. “They literally might go on strike. I seen that too.”
Johnson also addressed the financial gap between college and the professional ranks. While acknowledging frustration with salary structures, she emphasized that NIL has changed how athletes evaluate timing.
“The salary is just the salary,” she said, noting that endorsement relationships built in college do not disappear overnight.
Johnson stressed that brand partnerships can expand into long-term endorsements, making patience financially viable even for top prospects.
That approach aligns with reporting from The Athletic in April, which stated that Johnson likely would have been selected in the WNBA lottery.
By returning to LSU, she positions herself to enter the league under a new collective bargaining agreement with improved compensation. Under the current model, a four-year rookie deal for a lottery pick is worth roughly $350,000.
Johnson’s performance backs up her confidence. She earned Third Team All-American honors during the 2024–25 season, averaging 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three.
This season, through nine games, her efficiency has jumped significantly. She is producing 17.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game while converting 54.8 percent of her shots overall and 58.1 percent from three on nearly six attempts per game.
Despite delaying her draft entry, Johnson has not hidden her professional ambitions. “I’m so ready to go pro. I really want to establish myself to show I could be the number one pick in the draft,” she said.
Already a national champion as a freshman in 2023, Johnson continues to pair elite production with a clear understanding of timing in a rapidly changing basketball economy.
