Flau'jae Johnson Made a Move That Could Reshape Her Storm Future

Alright, Storm faithful, buckle up, because our rookie sensation Flau'jae Johnson just dropped some pretty significant news! The 22-year-old guard, fresh out of LSU and already balling out for our green and blue, has officially inked a multi-year contract with Unrivaled, that new 3-on-3 league. Yeah, you read that right. This isn't just a casual side gig, folks, and for an Emerald City hoops fan, you gotta wonder what this means for her journey with us.

The Unrivaled Deal: What It Is and Who Else Is In

So, what exactly is Unrivaled? It's a 3-on-3 league, and Johnson is the second player from the 2026 WNBA draft class to sign on, following Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles. This ain't their first rodeo with the "Unrivaled" brand either. Both Johnson and Miles were part of the 2025 Future is Unrivaled class, which was a big NIL initiative that also included other rising stars like Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Ta'Niya Latson, and Kiki Rice. Interestingly, Fudd just announced last week that she’s going to play for Project B, a global league launching this December. There's a whole new world opening up for these players, huh?

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Johnson herself sounds pretty stoked about it. In a statement released by the league, she said, "From signing one of the first NIL deals with Unrivaled to now joining the league as a player, it's been incredible to see this journey come full circle." It's cool to see players leveraging these opportunities, but for us Storm fans, our primary focus is always going to be on that court at Climate Pledge Arena.

Flau'jae's Early Storm Season: The Good and The Gritty

Let's talk about what Flau'jae has done for the Storm so far. Through 17 games, she’s been a starter in every single one, showing that the coaching staff has real faith in her. She's averaging a solid 11.4 points, grabbing 4.9 rebounds, and dishing out 2.3 assists per game. Those are promising numbers for a rookie, no doubt!

However, we've also seen some of the rookie struggles. Her shooting percentages tell part of the story, with 34.0% from the field overall and 25.0% from beyond the arc. We know she's got the talent; she was a two-time All-American at LSU, even winning a national championship in 2022-23, where she averaged 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds across 141 career games. The potential is clearly there for her to be a cornerstone for the Storm, and we've seen glimpses of that brilliance. Consistency from deep and overall efficiency will come with time and experience.

So, what does this Unrivaled signing mean for Flau'jae and the Storm going forward? Is it a way for her to sharpen her skills in a different format? A way to build her brand even further? Or does it potentially split her focus when every moment on the WNBA court is crucial for her development? We'll be watching every single game, every drive, every shot, and every minute she plays for the Storm. Let's hope this "full circle" journey keeps her fully committed to bringing a championship back to Seattle. Go Storm!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.