BATON ROUGE — Flau’jae Johnson commanded the building long before the opening tip on Sunday afternoon, before her first 3-pointer splashed through the net or the first defender fell victim to one of her silky drives to the rim.
The LSU star guard moved through her pregame routine with a calmness inside a buzzing Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Each swish from the free-throw line during pregame warmups stirred another surge of applause. When the jumbotron flashed her image overhead, the crowd responded with a rolling ovation, one filled with gratitude wrapped in anticipation.
They cheered for the player Johnson had become over four years in Baton Rouge. They did not see the emotion she carried into her final home game, the urgency, the unfinished business, the weight of a journey that once seemed unlikely to begin in purple and gold.
Sunday, March 22, 2026.
But Johnson made sure her farewell would be unforgettable. With a trip to the Sweet 16 at stake, the first-team All-SEC guard authored a sharp performance, pouring in 24 points — one shy of her season high — on 9-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 4-of-5 at the free-throw line. She added four rebounds and three assists as No. 2 seed LSU (29-5) overwhelmed No. 7 seed Texas Tech (26-8) 101-47, securing the program’s fourth consecutive Sweet 16 berth in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
“When I came here, I just wanted to be SEC Freshman of the Year,” a smiling Johnson told reporters postgame. “…Of course [LSU] winning a national championship [in 2023], that was crazy. …I didn’t even know I could play college basketball when I was in high school. …I was unranked until my tenth grade year, I think.”
Her imprint lingered everywhere — in the roar of the crowd, in the rhythm of LSU’s offense and in the widening gap on the scoreboard. But Johnson wasn’t alone in the spotlight.
Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Wing partner Mikaylah Williams matched her with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, finishing two shy of her season high. Together, they powered an offensive avalanche that placed LSU in the record books. The Tigers’ 16th 100-point outing of the season set a new Division I mark for most such games in a single year.
“Super cool,” Johnson said postgame about LSU’s historic feat.
The victory also extended LSU’s dominance at home in March. Under coach Kim Mulkey, the Tigers improved to 8-0 at the PMAC in NCAA Tournament games over the past four seasons and 27-4 all time at home in the event.
For Johnson, a Savannah, Georgia, native who once questioned whether college basketball would even be part of her future, the moment carried deeper meaning. Her swan song in the arena that shaped her career surpassed every expectation she once held.
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“Everything else that came with it [four years at LSU] has been just beyond my wildest dreams,” Johnson said. “This is unbelievable to me.”
Now, the stage shifts west. LSU will face No. 3 seed Duke later this week at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, a rematch of the much-discussed ACC/SEC Challenge meeting in December.
Here’s three takeaways from LSU’s historic NCAA Tournament and what is on the horizon for the Tigers in a rematch against the Blue Devils.
Mikaylah Williams, Flau’jae Johnson set the tone
By halftime, Johnson and Williams had already imposed their will.
The first-team All-SEC backcourt carried LSU’s offense through the opening 20 minutes, combining for 27 of the Tigers’ 43 points and powering a commanding 43-25 lead against Texas Tech. Their precision and poise left little doubt about the trajectory of the afternoon. When the teams returned from the locker room, LSU wasted no time tightening its grip. The Tigers delivered the decisive push early in the third quarter, effectively sealing the outcome long before the final horn.
But when the game’s emotional climax arrived, Johnson flashed her trademark smile and shared hugs and handshakes with her teammates after another winning sequence. Then reality set in. With 7:45 remaining, coach Kim Mulkey signaled for her senior guard to check out. Williams followed less than a minute later. The substitutions brought the moment into focus, the final chapter of Johnson’s career inside the PMAC had reached its end.
Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Time seemed to pause. The crowd delivered a sustained ovation that echoed through the arena she had called home. Tears streamed down her face as she embraced Mulkey, who fought back emotion.
“I knew I was going to lose it [crying], but I was holding strong,” Johnson said postgame. “Then my teammates came and hugged me and like a roar I heard in that PMAC and it was like wow. I gave everything I had and just let everything out. It was the most beautiful thing that I’ve been a part of. Something I’m going to remember forever.”
Mulkey concurred: “She was bawling and I was trying not to cry,” she added. Just hug her. I can’t say it enough, kids don’t stay at institutions anymore. Everybody’s looking for the next NIL deal. She stayed here and she’s impacted so many people in this town that we don’t even know about.”
Johnson’s performance marked her seventh 20-point outing of the season. Much of her confidence came from her willingness to demand more from herself and from those around her. Williams, seated beside Johnson at the postgame media table, described the senior guard’s final home game as “bittersweet,” then reflected on a formative practice battle that cemented their bond.
“We were going at it,” Williams said. “It was just a ‘I’m fixing to take your spot and [Johnson] I’m not letting you take my spot.’ …From that day forward, we had each other’s respect because neither of us stepped down. Ever since that day, our bond has been stronger. The conversations we have off the court. The lessons she’s [Johnson] taught me on and off the court, it’s just unimaginable.”
Sunday, March 22, 2026.
When Johnson and Williams perform at that level — Williams erupted for 24 points, adding seven rebounds and four assists for her sixth 20-point game this season — LSU operates with elite balance and confidence. Her versatility continues to underscore her emergence as one of the nation’s premier wings.
Johnson sees it, too.
“… When I was a freshman, I’m like oh my God, she’s [Williams] way better than when I was a freshman. She shoots the ball, she can score, she can get downhill. She can do whatever she wants at will. It was inspiring to me.”
LSU’s dominance extended well beyond its star duo. Three additional Tigers finished in double figures, highlighting the team’s postseason push. Jada Richard contributed 10 points and five assists. Kate Koval recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Amiya Joyner secured her ninth with 11 points and 11 boards for a LSU team that held a 46-12 advantage in paint points.
Johnson praised the frontcourt tandem for the steady production that complements LSU’s perimeter firepower.
“MyMy’s [Joyner] a baller,” Johnson said postgame. “She will come on the floor and give you a double-double. Kate [Koval] is just so mature for her age. She doesn’t get sped up. … She’s like a natural born leader and just having both of them. It’s beautiful and we’re going to need them to be big.”
LSU’s bench provided steady production
The Tigers entered Sunday averaging 38.9 bench points per contest. Against Texas Tech, LSU’s second unit delivered timely contributions that sustained the team’s pace and defensive pressure.
While Joyner anchored the effort, Grace Knox added six points and three rebounds in just over 24 minutes. Freshman Bella Hines chipped in six points and brought energy on both ends of the floor. MiLaysia Fulwiley scored only two points but disrupted Texas Tech’s backcourt with relentless on-ball pressure, making life difficult for ballhandlers Bailey Maupin, Denae Fritz and Gemma Nunez establishing any consistent offensive flow.
Mulkey praised Hines’ growth and willingness to embrace her role behind LSU’s veteran guards.
“Bella [Hines] is doing exactly what you hope freshmen do,” Mulkey said. “She sat behind Mikayla and Flau’jae but she signed here knowing we had those older players in front of her. Every day in practice, she wanted to guard them. Every day in practice, she’s taking charges, she’s talking. …She’s playing very good right now.”
The Tigers’ defense dictated the outcome
The Tigers limited Texas Tech to only seven made field goals on 25 attempts — 28% shooting — including only four makes in the second quarter. Nearly every possession felt tough for the Lady Raiders. LSU’s defensive pressure drained their offensive rhythm.
Bailey Maupin provided the lone consistent spark for Texas Tech, scoring 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting in the first half and carrying much of the scoring burden. Texas Tech, known for turning stops into manageable offense and leaning on shot-making from Maupin, Snudda Collins and Denae Fritz, struggled to generate the support it needed on either end.
The Tigers delivered their most decisive blow in the third quarter. They held the Lady Raiders to just seven points — tying the lowest third-quarter output LSU had allowed an opponent all season — while forcing four turnovers and limiting Texas Tech to 3-of-22 shooting. The surge pushed LSU’s lead to 76-32 entering the fourth quarter and effectively ended any hope of a comeback.
LSU’s dominance began on the defensive glass. The Tigers secured 33 of their 44 rebounds on defense, fueling a transition attack that produced 24 fastbreak points. Active hands and physical interior play led to five blocks and 12 steals, with seven of LSU’s nine players recording at least one takeaway.
Johnson credited the performance to a renewed commitment to accountability and leadership that took shape during the week.
“I think we had a players only meeting and we said what we need to do,” Johnson said. “I think me and Mikaylah, we have just kind of taken on that leadership thing to the max.
“When you see Mikaylah [Williams] getting stops on defense, it’s like I got to get stops on defense. Best scorers in the country can get on the floor and play defense. It’s just contagious. I feel like this was our best defensive effort of the year. … Everybody was everywhere.”
What’s next for LSU
LSU’s push for another Final Four runs into a contrasting Sweet 16 challenge against No. 3 seed Duke. The Tigers bring one of the nation’s most overwhelming offensive and rebounding profiles, averaging 95.3 points per game with a +17.1 margin on the glass while the Blue Devils counter with a defense-first identity that allows just 58.7 points per contest and thrives on slowing tempo. LSU already owns a roadmap in the matchup after the Tigers the Blue Devils 93-77 in December.
LSU’s dynamic wing trio of Johnson, Williams and Fulwiley fuels a high-possession attack supported by interior depth from Joyner and Koval. Duke leans on forward Toby Fournier’s scoring presence and point guard Taina Mair’s ability to organize a consistent half-court approach. The clash could come down to which team controls the pace the game and second-chance opportunities.
