After initially being drafted to the Golden State Valkyries, Flau'jae Johnson was quickly traded to the Seattle Storm, a franchise that has USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird as its all-time greatest player.
Johnson understood then and there that she would likely become one of the core young players at her new place of work and would be tasked to lead the organization back to its glory days.
It has been a while since the Storm has experienced championship success, and the last person to do so was its franchise legend and now minority owner. The hope is that the shift to a young core will propel them back into contention in the coming years.
However, after she arrived at the franchise, she was met with some disheartening news. It was something related to Sue Bird and her longtime partner, Megan Rapinoe.
We have decided to separate as a couple… I hope you all know we put a lot of thought and care into this. It's a decision that we made together. We're still going to be there for all of you and for each other. It's just going to look and feel a little bit different.
Megan Rapinoe said on A Touch MoreThe US soccer great and her now-former partner appeared on their podcast and revealed they are ending their 10-year relationship.
After watching this, Flau'jae Johnson was among the first to comment, and all she had was a GIF of a man shedding tears, indicating that she was probably also shedding a tear upon hearing the news about her new boss's relationship.
The tears were not just a reaction from someone who is going to play for their new boss. In fact, as Flau'jae Johnson revealed while on SportsCenter, her connection with Sue Bird goes way back.
She was always one of my favorite players. I remember one time she reached out to me when I was in high school, and her company together did a documentary on me… Great player, but even better person… It's crazy that I'm here right now with her logo on the court, and I'm kind of losing it. I love Sue, she's a GOAT, she's a legend.
Flau'jae JohnsonJohnson revealed that the four-time champion was the reason fans came to know about the rookie's basketball journey. Even though she is better known as a rapper, the 22-year-old knows the game is what allows her to do what she does.
Flau'jae Johnson was known for being one of the highest-earning college basketball players. It is possible that Sue Bird's documentary may have helped her get to this point. That explains why tears were her way of reacting to that news.
While Flau'jae Johnson won the 2023 NCAA women's college basketball national championship, it will be a short while before she experiences another victory.
It so happens that the Seattle Storm traded for the dynamic guard with the intention of creating a new young core that can develop into a championship-contending unit in a few years.
After losing almost all their veteran starters to free agency, the team is now facing an uphill task. They have a new head coach, which means that, along with the rebuilt roster, their journey will start from scratch. With the way other teams have loaded up in free agency, it is highly unlikely that Flau'jae Johnson and her new teammates will even be able to reach out and attempt to touch a playoff spot.
The leadership and maturity she displayed in college were one of the reasons the Storm gave up an additional second-round pick in the trade. They will expect the 5'10' guard to lead them back into contention.
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