LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson gives A’ja Wilson her flowers despite WNBA playoff disappointment: “She was putting up video game numbers”
LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson congratulated Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson for becoming the unanimous choice for the league's Most Valuable Player despite failing to guide the Aces to the WNBA Finals.
Wilson, who played for South Carolina from 2014-2018 before becoming the No. 1 pick by Las Vegas in the 2018 WNBA draft, won her third WNBA MVP award by averaging 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocks per game.
Wilson shot 51.8% from the field and 84.4% from the free throw line and this allowed Johnson to hail the 6-foot-4 center as the face of the league.
"I think it's A'Ja Wilson [is the face of the WNBA] only because she was unanimous MVP. She dominated the league even though she did come up short," Johnson said in the latest episode of the 'Best of Both Worlds' podcast on Friday.
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"She still dominated this season. She was putting up video game numbers the whole season," Johnson added.
Wilson led the erstwhile back-to-back champions to a 27-13 record and the fourth seed in the playoffs. Las Vegas won their first-round series, sweeping the Seattle Storm in two games. However, the Aces failed to overcome top seed New York Liberty in the semifinals, losing the best-of-five series, 3-1.
Flau’jae Johnson gives her take on the best women's college basketball player today
From talking about the best player in the WNBA, Flau'jae Johnson gave her take on who is the best player in women's college basketball. Her answer is UConn guard Paige Bueckers.
Johnson noted that Bueckers plays at a different level and it would be interesting to see how she will carry the Huskies this season with her backcourt tandem Azzi Fudd. She expects the 6-foot Hopkins, Minnesota native to pick up where he left off, especially since many WNBA scouts will be keeping tabs on her performance in the 2024-25 college basketball season.
"I really watch her work. I watch her play. I ain't going to lie she plays at a different pace. It's just different like her pace is insane," Johnson said.
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Paige Bueckers, who averaged 21.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.2 spg and 1.4 bpg, led UConn to a Final Four appearance this past season. They came in two points close to making the national championship final, losing to Iowa, 71-69, in the Final Four.
She opted out of a possible WNBA draft enlistment this past season and said she'll stay for another year with UConn. Aside from Fudd, Bueckers will have KK Arnold and Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Truong helping her in the backcourt spot. Furthermore, top high school prospect Sarah Strong manning the frontcourt for the Huskies, who are seeking to win their 12th national title and first since 2016.