Flau'jae Johnson and Storm Rookies Are About to Learn What Pro Basketball Actually Feels Like

Training camp is one thing. Saturday night at Chase Center is something else entirely. The Seattle Storm's three drafted rookies are about to step onto an WNBA court for real, and the gap between college ball and the professional game is about to hit them like a reality check.

Guard Flau'jae Johnson, the No. 8 overall pick out of LSU, knows the jump is coming. She's not trying to make it bigger than it is though. "It's the same game," Johnson said. "You can't really make it bigger than what it is. Just putting the ball in the basket, the same thing you've been doing since you was a kid." Still, the 22-year-old admits the adjustment will be massive, just like the SEC was when she came out of high school.

From Music Studio to the WNBA

Here's the wild part: Johnson didn't grow up dreaming of professional hoops. She was making music. "When I was in high school, I wasn't really focused on basketball," Johnson said. "I didn't really start training until my 10th or 11th grade year." She's a recording artist and rapper who started her music career at age 7. She didn't even realize you could play college basketball until she got to LSU and started dominating. Once that happened, everything changed. "I was like 'I want to play on the next level with the best players,'" she said.

Rookie guard Taina Mair, the No. 14 overall pick from Duke, has a similar story. She never thought the WNBA was even on the table. "I always wanted to play overseas, just to travel," Mair said. "But as you continue to play good and get opportunities and hear talks about yourself, it just becomes an opportunity that you never want to turn down."

VanSlooten Fighting for Her Spot

Third-round pick Grace VanSlooten, a forward from Michigan State, is in a different position. Unlike Johnson and Mair, who are essentially locks for the 12-player roster, VanSlooten has to earn her spot. She switched from soccer to basketball in seventh grade after playing up with the eighth-grade team. "Over the course of a year or two, I found my thing," she said.

Saturday's game will be her moment to prove she belongs. With forward Ezi Magbegor sidelined by a foot injury and rookie forward Awa Fam in Spain, there's real opportunity here. VanSlooten isn't expecting to drop 20 points a night. "I'm going to do the little work, basically, anything I can do to get on the court," she said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm just going to make the most of it."

The Storm host their first exhibition Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against Golden State at Chase Center. Wednesday, they face the expansion Portland Fire at home before the regular season kicks off May 8 with a rematch against the Warriors.

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