Flau’jae Johnson on Injury Recovery, Facing Caitlin Clark, and Manifesting an Adele Collaboration

Few athletes embody the modern era of college sports like Flau’jae Johnson. A standout guard for LSU and a rising star in the music industry, she’s not just making plays on the court—she’s making hits in the studio. Balancing hoops and hip-hop with effortless confidence, Johnson has carved out a lane uniquely her own.

This March, she’s back with POWERADE for their second-straight March Madness campaign, but this time, she’s bringing even more to the table. “It has evolved in a major way, and it means a lot to me that they put a lot of resources into me,” she says of her growing partnership with the brand. Teaming up with Lyrical Lemonade, Johnson has dropped an exclusive new track, WHAT IT TAKES—a high-energy anthem about the grind, the hustle, and the mindset it takes to be great. It’s more than just a campaign; it’s a statement, blending her passions for basketball and music into one powerful message.

We caught up with Johnson to talk about the partnership, her creative process, and her leadership role at LSU.  She also reflected on facing Caitlin Clark—calling her the toughest opponent she’s ever played—saying, “Me and Caitlin, we one and one right now. I got to wait until I get into the league to break that tie.” Plus, she shared how stepping away from social media has helped her stay locked in.

Our conversation, lightly edited and condensed for clarity, is below.

This is your second-straight March Madness campaign with Powerade. How has the partnership with the brand evolved? What does their support mean to you?

It has evolved in a major way, and it means a lot to me that they put a lot of resources into me. It's let me be more creative using both of my entities, you know what I'm saying? Not just playing basketball because, of course, Powerade keeps me fueled up, but also in the music world. And so it is beautiful to see how we've done something so creative this year.

My favorite line in the spot is “Though I got the juice with NIL / I’m sipping Powerade.” It's obviously a shout-out to the partnership, but frankly, it's kind of a bar. What was your process behind writing the song?

They kind of gave me little tidbits, what we want you to say, but it was an easy process; just something creative that goes with me, but also with the theme. I kind of think of it like writing a paper, so I kind of never really had problems with that. It's like my everyday life; it’s what I do with basketball, so it wasn't complicated.

And for basketball, obviously, you're on the court. For writing a song like this, are you in your room? Are you in a studio? What's your writing process?

I actually have a studio in my apartment, so I recorded it in my apartment. But I wrote it in the car and I just sent a voice memo to my mom and then she sent it to them and they was like, oh, we love that. So I was like, okay, I'm going to record it.

You wrote it in the car?

Yeah, for sure. I think it was on the way to class or something.

On the way to class?

Yeah, it didn't take long. It didn't take long at all.

You said you sent it to your mom. Does she listen to all your songs before they go, or was this just because of the partnership?

Yeah, just because of partnership I wanted to hear her take on it. She kind of thinks like a corporate mind, I would say. I never really let her hear my music until it's fully done, but this time I wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

Is she somewhat of a momager?

Oh, she's definitely a full, hardcore momager, I'll tell you that.

Hydration is obviously key for peak performance and recovery. How else do you take care of your body?

Man, in a lot of ways. Hydration, number one, but it's easy to do with Powerade. They're already partnered with my school, so I'm definitely always sipping Powerade. But I’m just now learning how to take care of my body: cold tubs, hyperbaric chamber, red lights, things like that. So many things that you can invest in your body. And right now, in college, I have access to them for free, so I need to use them before I go pro. So yeah, I’m just taking advantage of everything. 

I kind of learned that with this injury. Having to sit out and wait until the tournament has taught me to really learn how to take care of my body.

You were recently injured. How's your recovery going? How are you feeling?

Oh, it's going great. I'm getting iced right now, actually as we speak. I finally got to run on the treadmill today, so taking steps. it's been hard for me not to be on the court with my team, but it's also been eye-opening to get a different perspective of the game. It's been a blessing in disguise, I think, for me and for my team. I'm very excited to be coming back.

Your teammate, McKayla Williams, credited you with being a player's coach and a leader in the recent win against Florida. What does it mean to hear that?

It’s great. I never wanted to take on that leader role because it's like, dang, I'm taking on another job. But some people, that's just what they are. I don't try to be, but people just tend to flock to me, and I just try to make people believe that they could do anything. I feel like we can. 

So I don't know, it feels good, but I just really want to do anything to see us win. So if that's putting confidence in my teammates, then that's what I got to do.

I think that's what a great leader is, though. They step up when they need to, and they're not trying, they just naturally do lead. On the flip side of the physical recovery and taking care of your body, how do you take care of your mind? It's a lot of pressure to be in the spotlight.

I just pray and journal. I've been journaling a lot, and reading books, and I'm off social media right now, which has been great for me. I'm doing this fast and just have to sacrifice things to reach my ultimate goal, so I let the social media go. It's probably been the best thing for me, not seeing everything people are saying, because I feel like that's added pressure, watching all of that, and now you got this in your ear, this in your ear and then you kind of forget you in the real world, you know what I'm saying? 

That stuff really doesn't even matter, so I’m just really taking a break from that. 

I'm just journaling and trying to make myself every day, and focus on my habits, and focus on what I have to do in order to get back on the court. I've just been so focused on conditioning, weight lifting, and things like that. Now, I'm able to get in the gym and shoot. It’s just been an amazing journey. 

When something gets taken from you, you really do have a different appreciation for it. So that's why I say that this injury is a blessing in disguise.

I love that for you, that you're off social media, because it's the worst.

Yeah, facts. I love it, too. I'm not going to lie.

LSU obviously has a target on its back as defending champions. How has that affected the team's mentality this year?

I feel like every year it's a new team, so I feel like some of the new ones, they don't understand the pressure it is to have that LSU across your chest. I’ll just tell you, it's like a lot of unknown hate for us. They don't like us, but they don't know why they don't like us, you know what I'm saying? 

It's like you got to play with an extra gist, because every time somebody plays, they're going to play with an extra oomph, like, we got to beat LSU. I be trying to explain that to 'em like, we created this monster, but now you got to defend that. You got to play with some pride because other people are going to play with pride, you know what I'm saying, to beat you. 

So I think now everybody kind of got an understanding going into March, we really got to be on point every game.

What's been the biggest lesson you've learned from Coach Kim Mulkey?

Man, it's been a lot. I ain't going to lie. Biggest one, number one, is probably not to take the game for granted. I think this injury, it showed me, but she's always been telling me–one day, it's going to fly right by. I was a freshman, and now I'm a junior–this is crazy. And so now, I really see how you can take the game for granted. I just want to dive into it even more.

Just give everything you’ve got while you're on the court. You'll never know when it could be over.

And how do you stay present?

Oh man, bro, it's crazy that you just asked me that–wow. I literally was just going around asking my athletic director and coaches–I’m like, how do you stay present? I even asked Coach Seimone Augustus. Oh my god, I literally just wrote it in my– one second, sorry, I have to show you this for one second in my notes. 

*shows me her journal* I don’t know if you can see that, but it says “How to be present.”

Oh my god. Literally right at the top!

Literally. I'm just getting all of these tidbits from my coaches, but Coach Seimone is just like, nothing else matters. You got to create your own reality, because you can't get that time back. She's such a time-oriented person, and so am I. And so it's just being present, not thinking about anything else. 

When I'm on the court, all I'm thinking about is how to get better. When I'm in the studio, all I'm thinking about is how I want to create this song. And just being intentional with people, as well. Not getting stuck in thought and just being in the time. 

I think being off social media helps that too, because I'm not stuck scrolling endlessly in my phone. I'm really present in the moment. That's really what I've been working on. That's crazy you asked. I don't really have it all down, but I'm just trying to be where my feet are.

“Be where my feet are”  I love that. Maybe you've inspired me. I'm doing a lot of doom-scrolling lately, so maybe I'll take a cleanse.

You ain't going to want to get back on either.

No, for sure. Who's the toughest opponent you've faced so far in your college career, and what did you take away from that matchup?

Definitely got to be Caitlin Clark, but also Paige Bueckers. I didn't even play against Paige, but I’ve trained with her, and I’ve seen her play–just like her pace and how she attacks the game. I just love that about both of them and their pace, you know what I'm saying?

Them two are definitely the hardest. I played Clark my freshman year and my sophomore year. I'm a junior, and so first year–freshman year–we got it. Second year, she got me. So me and Caitlin, we one and one right now. I got to wait until I get into the league to break that tie.

She's definitely the hardest opponent I've ever had to play. She was able to just facilitate. She's like the best passer I think I’ve ever played against, ever in my life. Her and Georgia Amoore, they can really pass. I really respect the game, and I respect her skill. This is next level; it's not even close.

We recently ranked the Top 10 Most Influential Female Athletes Right Now, and we named your former teammate Angel Reese at number two. How would you describe Angel's influence on and off the court?

I think it's huge. I think one of, if not the biggest. I think her influence gets downplayed a little bit just because of all the negativity that surrounds some of the things she does. But I think that just makes it even bigger, you know what I'm saying? The fact that you have so much love and so much hate makes you at the top of the list.

I think her impact is seen, and it's special. You see her on the McDonald's meal, that's crazy. And so I think she's doing something that's not been done in the WNBA and I think she just got to continue on that path. It's huge.

I spoke with her about that McDonald's meal, and she's just incredible. Two more questions from me. What is the last song you listened to, and who is your dream artist to collaborate with?

My dream artist to collaborate with is Adele. And the last song I listened to is “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone.

Tell me, why Adele?

Oh, I love Adele. Obviously, I've been in my singing bag recently, but I just love her music. It calms me, and I just feel like she got soul, and I just feel like that's what music is about– that soul.

Maybe she'll come out of retirement for you, that would be so good.

I pray to the Lord every day that Adele will come out of retirement for me.

We're manifesting it now.

Oh yes, we are. Absolutely no doubt about it.