Flau'jaeJohnson

News: 3 days agoJohnson recorded 12 points (5-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes during Saturday's 78-76 preseason loss to the Valkyries.

Spin: Johnson's first taste of WNBA action came against the team that traded her on draft night in mid-April, and she made a strong impact as a starter. The 22-year-old tied for the team lead in the scoring column while tying for second in rebounds. It's not yet clear whether she'll maintain a starting role once the regular season begins, but she'll likely have plenty of opportunities to earn playing time as a rookie after the Storm lost Skylar Diggins during the offseason.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: After being selected by the Valkyries with the No. 8 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Johnson was subsequently traded to the Storm on draft night. She could have even greater opportunities in Seattle as a rookie and will likely be in the mix for a starting role right away given her shot-creating abilities and defensive skill set in the backcourt. Johnson had plenty of contributions during her four seasons at LSU, averaging 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.2 minutes per game. The 22-year-old had some struggles with consistency at the WNBA level, which could lead the Storm to ease her into action at the professional level, but she's a stellar defender with solid scoring capabilities, and she should have ample opportunities to earn playing time as a rookie.