The 2025 WNBA Draft ended as expected—Paige Bueckers walked across the stage, hugged the commissioner, and took her place in history. The pageantry was deserved. Bueckers, a generational guard, was always the No. 1 pick in waiting. No suspense, no surprises, just flowers. But as the confetti settled, attention turned swiftly to 2026, and ESPN’s Michael Voepel wasted no time releasing his draft projections. One name was conspicuously absent from the top three: LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson.
The list continued a pattern in recent drafts. Since 2022, the No. 1 pick has felt like a foregone conclusion: Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, and Bueckers—each the face of their class and, later, WNBA Rookie of the Year. Johnson, however, is slotted at No. 5. When she saw the ranking, her response wasn’t loud.
It was a single emoji posted on X: “.” No caption. No complaints. Just a salute. A nod that said everything.
— Flaujae 4⃣ (@Flaujae) April 23, 2025
Voepel’s top five begins with Lauren Betts, a 6-foot-7 center from UCLA whose junior season was dominant: 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, nearly 3 blocks per game, and a nation-leading 64.8% from the field. Her skill set is rare, and the Bruins’ Final Four run only amplified her value.
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The post Flau’jae Johnson Has a Silent Yet Telling Reaction as ESPN Snubs Her From the Top 3 WNBA Draft Prospects for 2026 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
