For the last few years, Flau’jae Johnson has been the Robin to Kim Mulkey’s Batman. The duo rebuilt the Tigers into a dominant national basketball powerhouse. But beyond that, too, their bond became immensely personal, so much so that it remained intact even after Johnson transitioned to the WNBA. Recently, the LSU head coach heaped praise on Johnson’s impact on the program, prompting the latter to share a touching response.

It was the LSU Board of Supervisors Meeting on Thursday, where the women’s basketball program was honored for its contributions to the sport. Additionally, Johnson received recognition for her impact on the program over the years. As Mulkey stood up to address the meeting after these recognitions, the LSU head coach started off in her own nonchalant fashion before getting teary-eyed while reading Johnson’s message.

“She says, “Coach, thank you. I love you so much. You don’t know what you did for me. I am thankful for you and LSU. I will see you at the draft.” So she recognizes what you guys did for her,” Mulkey said. Johnson responded to the post on X, sharing a heartfelt message. “Why she making me cry after practice 🥺😩,” Johnson wrote in response.

Johnson’s message to Mulkey doesn’t just reinforce the bond they share. But in a way, it also defines the close relationship she has with LSU, a program that has given her so much success over the years. And even though she has a star-studded future in the WNBA, Johnson is not shying away from recognizing the program’s contributions to her career and expressing the emotions she’s experiencing while leaving it after 4 years.

Against this support, Johnson, too, has given the LSU Tigers her all. With Mulkey, Johnson helped the program become the National Champions. But beyond the accolades, Johnson set an example of what playing for the LSU Tigers means. With Johnson, Mulkey didn’t have to worry about a floor general on the court as she knew LSU’s No. 4 would take care of it.

This is exactly what Mulkey liked about Johnson- her inherent leadership quality. The LSU head coach touched upon it a bit in her speech at the Board of Supervisors Meeting as well. “She (Johnson) would text me periodically, hours early in the morning. She woke up at 5 A.M. early on in the morning to work out and then she would do her rep. And just randomly, she would give an opinion of me disciplining a teammate.”

This perfectly validates how invested Johnson was in Mulkey for the LSU Women’s Basketball program. And now that the association between the two has almost concluded, it’s quite natural that both Mulkey and Johnson are emotional.

Apr 1, 2024; Albany, NY, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) controls the ball against LSU Lady Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson (4) and LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese (10) in the third quarter in the finals of the Albany Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Their relationship hasn’t just been about sunshine and rainbows, though. Mulkey’s stern coaching measures also got up to Johnson at times. For instance, in the LSU guard’s final regular-season game, she scored just 4 points. And the LSU head coach didn’t hesitate to point it out in the media. But when the time came, Mulkey also came to the defense of her star player.

But amid the successes they have achieved together, the one element that never tarnished was their honesty. Mulkey, as the team’s leader, never gave Johnson false hope and, despite being the team’s flagship player, always pushed her to be better and earn a starting place on the team.

“I would just say, honest. We have a very honest relationship because Coach Mulkey doesn’t lie,” Johnson said earlier this year. “From my freshman year until now, she’s never lied to me. She never promised me I was going to start; she only promised that if I worked hard and earned the spot, I would play. She kept her word.”

After Flau’jae Johnson’s transition to the W, Kim Mulkey has emphasized rebuilding. After all, replacing a program legend like Johnson isn’t easy. But Mulkey has made good use of the transfer portal, bringing in players like Jada Williams and Laila Reynolds. On the other hand, Johnson is looking to navigate the dynamics of the pro circuit and get accustomed to her coaching change.

Flau’jae Johnson Draws Sharp Contrast Between Kim Mulkey and Seattle Storm Head Coach

After four long years, Johnson is making her move away from the comfort of familiarity to the broad and complex challenges of the W and amid it, the former LSU guard has come to a realization with one interesting aspect of this move- coaching shift. After her first day at the Seattle Storm training camp, Johnson clearly reflected on the difference in coaching measures between Kim Mulkey and Seattle’s Sonia Raman.

“I think it’s such a good environment. Coach Sonia, she’s cool. She’s like 180 from Kim Mulkey right?” Johnson said. “So coach Mulkey, you know how coach Mulkey is. And so she’s (coach Sonia) like, “good job guys.” And I was like, “okay”, but it’s been super cool.”

Mulkey has always been that enforcer, even in training sessions. She wants her players to treat every training drill as part of the game. And Johnson, being a part of those training sessions for all these years, knows a thing or two about those sessions. On the other hand, Johnson is in Sonia Raman’s hands.

Raman is in her first year with the WNBA assignment in Seattle. Although little is known about coaching tactics and strategies, reports indicate that Raman is quite composed and calm on the sidelines. So that’s a significant difference in coaching intensity that Johnson is already facing in her first few weeks on the pro circuit. Similarly, her role will also see a major change within the team.

For instance, in her final few seasons with the LSU Tigers, Johnson was that guiding senior that every player on the roster looked up to. But in Seattle, there are far more senior players who can take up that responsibility. With experienced campaigners such as Natasha Hiedeman and Ezi Magbegor, Johnson can learn immensely before she suits up for Storm in preseason games and then in her first season at the W.

Flau’jae Johnson will suit up for the Seattle Storm for the first preseason game against the Golden State Valkyries on April 25. She will follow it up with another practice game against the Portland Fire on April 29.