Last year, Flau’jae Johnson said that she and Angel Reese had become estranged after parting ways after playing together on the court at LSU.
Under head coach Kim Mulkey, the dynamic team of Johnson and Reese was a formidable force, helping the Tigers defeat Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the 2023 NCAA title and advance to the Elite Eight the following year.
However, the once-inseparable couple seemed to have lost their strong bond, both on and off the basketball court, following their illustrious time together at LSU. While Reese is dominating professionally for Unrivaled’s Rose BC and the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Johnson is in her junior year with the Tigers, averaging about 20 points per game and shooting just under 50% from the floor.
“Yeah, me and Angel, we aren’t as close as we used to be,” Johnson acknowledged in an interview with the New York Post in September. However, I still firmly believe in her. Even simply being in the W[NBA] and setting records made me proud of her.
“Many people kind of hating on her because they said she wouldn’t go to the W[NBA] and do all those things. However, I was somewhat aware of that since I observe it in action every day and her mindset. Thus, it’s been awesome to observe her.
Reese echoed these sentiments when she talked candidly about her relationship with Johnson on the ‘Unapologetically Angel’ podcast. “I continue to back Flau’jae. The star forward bemoaned, “We aren’t as close as we used to be.”
We aren’t as close as we once were, but there aren’t any animosities or anything. Because of this, people often assume that we would continue to post to one another even though we are no longer as close. It occurs. You don’t always maintain ties with everybody, and you don’t always have the best relationships with everyone. I therefore always wish her the best. I will always be there for her.
Reese and Johnson’s latest disclosures are very surprising considering their close-knit relationship, which was just recently apparent as recently as April 2024. In a heated press conference after LSU’s Elite Eight loss to Iowa, the guard and rapper vehemently defended her teammate from criticism.
During a heated postgame press conference, Johnson told reporters, “Everyone can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her.” “Angel Reese is unknown to you all. Angel Reese is someone I know. The person I see every day is a strong, kind, and loving person, and I know the real Angel Reese.”
“She is wearing a huge crown. She is the kind of teammate who will inspire confidence in you. Angel gave me the confidence to go be a dog as I made the jump from my freshman to sophomore year.