EBONY held its 2026 Power 100 Gala celebration on Monday at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event honored professionals in entertainment, business, sports, media, music, and STEM while acknowledging the publication’s 80-year history. Seattle Storm’s Flau’jae Johnson also took the stage and, in an honest take, shared what drives her at the highest level of women’s basketball.

“When you’re in places where you feel like you’re not supposed to be, but God makes you feel like, ‘No, go in there and own that room,'” Johnson said when asked about whether she is nervous before the games. “I think that presence is something special, and it’s something that I feel all the time. And I feel like little girl, they come up to me, they’re like, can I say, how are you not nervous when you’re playing basketball? I’m like, I’m about to throw up before every game. But I said this prayer, and I hit the table, and I said, ‘God, please give me the confidence and the poise to know that I belong here.'”

During the ceremony, Kia J Brooks presented Johnson with her award, accompanied onstage by Johnson’s younger brother, Adin.

Hosted by actress and singer Tisha Campbell, the ceremony operated under the theme ‘The Stories We Shape,’ focusing on narrative ownership and cultural representation. The event schedule included tributes, acceptance speeches, and musical performances by Kirk Franklin, Tyrese, and T.I.

The ceremony’s scheduled entertainment featured Tyrese executing performances of ‘Sweet Lady’ and ‘How You Gonna Act Like That.’ The programming concluded with a set by T.I., who integrated the Pharrell-produced ‘Let ‘Em Know’ and ‘Whatever You Like’ to close the proceedings.

Alongside Johnson, there was another familiar face in the list of honorees. Nneka Ogwumike found herself on EBONY’s list of Leaders in Sport, alongside tennis great Naomi Osaka and two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery. Ogwumike has served as the Women’s National Basketball Players Association for several seasons now, apart from being a championship-winning forward. Ogwumike also announced her retirement from active play after this season with the Los Angeles Sparks.

But for Johnson, the attention now shifts to the off-season, as she is set to play in the Unrivaled league.

Flau’jae Johnson Will Play For Vinyl BC In Unrivaled

Flau’jae Johnson is set to join Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Jordin Canada, and Aneesah Morrow as part of Vinyl BC for Unrivaled season three.

Coached by Teresa Weatherspoon, this Unrivaled roster leans heavily on recent shared chemistry, featuring Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada after their WNBA Finals appearance against the Valkyries. Teresa Weatherspoon is expected to implement a defensive system mirroring the Dream’s recent postseason strategy. Constructed without a conventional post presence, the team compensates with extensive perimeter athleticism.

Dearica Hamby and Aneesah Morrow will be the other central figures for Vinyl BC, operating at a size disadvantage against opposing front courts. If the pair can consistently secure defensive rebounds despite the height differential, they will be able to facilitate the team’s strategy of generating transition scoring opportunities from defensive stops. Executing this transition-based system effectively could position the roster favorably in the league standings.

The addition of Flau’jae Johnson provides another defensive wing to supplement Gray and Howard in the rotation. Johnson’s presence makes this team a strong contender for the Unrivaled title, after she finished the 2026 WNBA regular season with 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, playing 42 games for the Storm. Although the Seattle Storm finished with an 8-36 record, at the bottom of the table, Johnson’s exploits throughout the season earned her a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie team.

The LSU graduate concluded her first professional season as the only player in WNBA history to record at least 600 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists, 50 steals, and 28 blocks in a rookie campaign. Also, Johnson became just the third rookie at her position to secure 200 rebounds, while her 626 total points ranked eighth all-time among first-year players. Additionally, she established new Seattle Storm rookie records in total points, 25-point games (6), steals (58), made field goals (221), 3-pointers (60), and minutes played (1,204).

For the fans, expectations remain high for Johnson to perform well in the Unrivaled and the next WNBA season. She has certainly shown the credentials and the attitude for it so far in her career.