After a historically successful inaugural season, the Golden State Valkyries are preparing to take a step forward in year No. 2. And on draft night, they took a leap towards that goal, with an exceptional — and unexpected — selection. With the eighth overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Valkyries grabbed LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, a two-time All-American.
Many people didn’t expect Johnson to be available when the Valkyries made their pick. In ESPN’s final mock draft, the 2023 national champion
went sixth overall, but she was still on the board at No. 8 on Monday night, and Ohemaa Nyanin jumped at the opportunity to draft her.
Johnson is a tremendous fit for the Valkyries, on and off the court. Her style of play is ideal for Natalie Nakase’s system: she moves the ball selflessly, is a talented shooter (she improved her three-point percentage every year at LSU, peaking at 39.3% as a senior), and is a very strong defensive player, with endless effort. But she also has the flash and charisma that fits perfectly with an organization that made WNBA history by selling out all of their home games in 2025.
She was a fan favorite while at LSU, for myriad reasons. She’s stylish and outgoing, builds great relationships with coaches, teammates, and fans, and even has a burgeoning music career, with three rap albums released under Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. Her father was also a successful rapper before his death in 2003.
Johnson, who grew up in Savannah, Georgia, had her best collegiate season as a junior in 2024-25, when she averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Her senior year was strong — she was an All-American for the second year running — but a small step back from her junior campaign, which ultimately helped the Valkyries, as she wouldn’t have lasted until Golden State’s selection with a bigger year.
We’ll have to wait until next month to see how Johnson plays in the WNBA, but I’m confident that Valkyries fans will love her.
