Leading with a high score and even higher pride, Flau’jae Johnson knows she’s acing it every time she steps on the court. Always vocal and showing exactly why she’s earned her confidence, Johnson’s got a bit of a chip on her shoulder when it comes to her competition. So when she met Mississippi State this time around, she made sure to take her revenge and made it loud and clear why she calls herself “Big Fo.”
Flashback to last season when the Lady Tigers took on Mississippi State. The Bulldogs handed LSU a tough 77-73 loss in Starkville, with MSU’s guard Jerkaila Jordan going off for 24 points. Johnson, tasked with guarding Jordan for much of the game, found herself struggling as Jordan lit up the scoreboard. After the game, Jordan took to social media, calling Johnson “Little Fo.”
Well, you know what they say about payback.
Fast forward to Sunday’s showdown at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. This time, “Big 4” wasn’t having it. She made it clear that guarding Jordan wasn’t just another task, it was personal. And she delivered in a way that sent a message. She held Jordan to a goose egg, keeping her scoreless on 0-of-9 shooting.
I asked Flau’jae Johnson about how she locked down Jerkaila Jordan today.
“It was personal.”
“Big Fo.”#LSU pic.twitter.com/fwu3boegom
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) February 2, 2025
It was a defensive masterpiece as Johnson’s presence stifled MSU’s best player, and her performance helped No. 5 LSU secure an 81-67 win over the Bulldogs.
After the game, when asked about what motivated her, the Tigers star didn’t hold back. “It was personal. After we lost last year, I took that to heart. And then she went on Twitter and talked about how I was ‘Lil 4.’ So, I was thinking about that since last year,” Johnson said.
“I’m a competitor. So, I didn’t care if I scored this game, as long as I did what I did on defense. And I tied my career for four blocks. So, Big Fo,” she added.
But the guard didn’t just shine on defense, she also made waves on offense. She finished with 20 points and tied her season-high with four 3-pointers, showing that she could get it done on both ends of the floor.
From the very beginning, the junior’s frustration with her matchup was visible. She wasted no time shutting down Jordan’s attempts, blocking two of her shots early on.
Jordan, a quick-twitch guard known for her agility and ability to drive to the basket, didn’t stand a chance. Johnson blocked her out at every turn, forcing turnovers and shutting down drives.
The post “It Was Personal”: Flau’jae Johnson Reveals Year-Long Feud With SEC Star That Finally Concluded After LSU’s Win appeared first on EssentiallySports.
