Flau’jae Johnson has sparked speculation that she might be joining the Indiana Fever after lavishing their new head coach Stephanie White with compliments.

The LSU standout and key player has stirred up conversation about her potential WNBA future. With the 21-year-old set to be draft-eligible in 2025, her comments have increased rumors of a move to join up with Caitlin Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, at the Fever.

On a recent episode of her Best of Both Worlds podcast, Johnson didn’t hold back her thoughts on the Fever’s coaching update, saying: “Let me tell y’all, the Fever, the Indiana Fever having Stephanie White as a head coach. I really like that, like I love that.”

She summed up why she’s so fond of her in eight-words, explaining: “I feel like she is a players’ coach.” Johnson continued: “Like I even remember when she was recruiting me at Vanderbilt, like I was like, ‘I like this lady like, I want to go play for her’.”

While White was at the helm of Vanderbilt during Johnson’s transition from Sprayberry High School to college hoops, by the time Johnson decided on LSU, White had already left her position, reports the Irish Star. Johnson candidly revealed that the presence of White at Vandebilt would have been a major factor in her decision-making, admitting: “I try to go where I like the people and she was a good, she seemed like a good coach.”

Since starting her college journey, Johnson has racked up an impressive list of honors, including snagging last year’s NCAA Championship with LSU, being named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year, and earning the McDonald’s All-American award in 2022.

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White ( 

Image:

David Berding/Getty Images)

In the 2023/24 season, as a sophomore, Johnson boasted a free-throw average of 76.9 percent, along with averages of 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals, two turnovers, one block and notably 14.9 points per game – signaling a promising future ahead in her basketball career.

White said farewell to Vanderbilt in 2021, took a two-year hiatus, and then made a comeback as the head coach for the Connecticut Sun in the 2023/24 season. Under her leadership, the team clinched second place in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference this season, boasting a record of 28 wins against 12 losses.

After playing for the Fever from 2000 to 2004, White stepped into the role of head coach in November, taking over from Christie Sides. Sides had led the team to its first playoff appearance since 2016 but ultimately fell to White’s Sun side.

Caitlin Clark has impressed for the Fever

Caitlin Clark has impressed for the Fever ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Upon her appointment, White said: “I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal moment in this franchise’s history, as well as during such an important time throughout women’s athletics. This franchise has and always will be committed to winning and I look forward to working every day to help deliver another WNBA title to the greatest basketball fans in the world.”

With potential draft pick Johnson joining the Fever, she could join forces with the remarkable 22-year-old Clark, who made an unforgettable splash in the WNBA in 2024 by shattering numerous all-time records during her first year. Snatched up by Indiana as the first pick of the WNBA draft, Clark soon demonstrated her worth to the team.

Commanding attention, she clinched 66 out of 67 votes for the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year honor, following an exceptional streak that included the highest points and assists ever recorded by a rookie in one season, along with setting a record pace as the quickest woman to surpass the 100 three-pointers milestone.