A week ago, Paige Bueckers stood center stage—hugging the commissioner, flashing that easy grin, and sealing her fate as the latest No. 1 pick in a WNBA Draft that offered zero suspense. It’s been that way for years: Rhyne Howard. Aliyah Boston. Caitlin Clark. Bueckers. Every April, the league crowns a queen-in-waiting.

Then came ESPN’s early look at the 2026 WNBA draft.

No. 1? Lauren Betts.
No. 2? Azzi Fudd.
No. 3? Still not Flau’jae Johnson.

Sure, 2026 isn’t like the years before. The class is loaded, the hierarchy is murky, and the rankings are more conversation starters than conclusions. But still—Flau’jae not in the top three? When the list dropped, her response wasn’t loud. It didn’t have to be.It was a single emoji posted on X: “🫡.” No caption. No complaints. Just a salute. A nod that said everything.

Voepel’s top pick? Lauren Betts—and to be fair, the numbers make a strong case. According to Joker Mag, the average WNBA center stands at 6’4.92″ (195.38 cm). Betts towers above at 6’7″ (201 cm), making her just two inches shorter than Brittney Griner (6’9″), the tallest active player in the league. Han Xu, listed at 6’11”, hasn’t seen as much action. But Betts isn’t just height. She led the nation with a 64.8% field goal percentage, put up 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, and anchored UCLA’s Final Four run—scoring nearly half of their 51 points against UConn. UCLA’s entire game plan in that semifinal? Give it to Betts.

Still, Johnson shouldn’t be ignored—especially when it comes to the No. 3 spot, currently held by Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles. On paper, Miles impresses: 15.4 PPG, 48.3% FG, 40.6% from three, and 5.8 APG. But Johnson? She’s averaging 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 38.3% from deep—against elite SEC competition. Plus, she’s the definition of marketable: Powerade, Puma, Amazon. She’s not just a player, she’s a brand.

And when it comes to big moments, Johnson delivers. In the tournament, while Miles struggled—just 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0 blocks, and only 25% shooting—Johnson shined: 16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.8 blocks, and shot a blistering 50% from the field and 46.7% from three. Simply put, Johnson shows up when it matters.

Flau’jae Johnson Returns to LSU: “This Is the Standard”

While the 2026 WNBA Draft buzz swirls, Flau’jae Johnson is making a different kind of headline—one rooted in loyalty, leadership, and legacy. In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, Johnson confirmed she’ll return to LSU for her senior season, silencing rumors about a potential transfer or early exit. And she didn’t mince words about what that return means.

“It’s going to be me, allowing Coach Mulkey to coach the hell out of me,” Johnson said. “Just so everybody else falls in line. I’m going to have to be the one to take that to show an example, this is the standard here. I’m ready to do that. I wasn’t ready to do that in my previous years. Now, I know what it takes.”

Her commitment follows a wave of speculation after she declined to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft, instead teasing fans with tour dates alongside rapper BossMan Dlow. But Johnson made it clear—her music may be booming, but her game comes first. “I definitely want to win, but I want to make sure I’m being developed to be the player that I want to be in the WNBA,” she told FOS. “Trying to find out how I can make that happen this year. I want to be as prepared as possible.”

That preparation already shows in the numbers. The third-team AP All-American averaged a career-high 18.6 points per game last season, leading LSU to the Elite Eight before falling to Lauren Betts and UCLA. But Johnson’s return isn’t just about unfinished business—it’s about setting the tone. After all, she’s no stranger to big stages. She was a starting freshman on LSU’s 2023 national title team. Now, she’s the standard-bearer, and the spotlight is hers to command.