The friendship between Johnson and Reese began to cool when Angel made the jump to the WNBA.
Flau’Jae Johnson has confirmed what fans have been speculating for weeks-her relationship with former LSU teammate and WNBA rising star Angel Reese isn’t what it used to be. In a candid interview, Johnson opened up about the shift in their friendship since the two helped lead LSU to their NCAA title victory over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023.
“Yeah, me and Angel, we aren’t as close as we used to be,” Johnson shared with The Post. “But I still support her 1000 percent. I was proud of her, just being in the W[NBA] and breaking records
Reese, who was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in 2024, had a standout rookie season before a wrist injury cut it short. Despite their growing distance, Johnson had nothing but admiration for her former teammate’s journey.
“A lot of people said that she wouldn’t go to the W[NBA] and do all those things… but I knew she could because I saw her mentality every day in practice. It’s been dope to watch her,” the Tigers guard added.
The relationship between Johnson and Reese has been a hot topic since Reese mentioned on her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast last week that they were no longer best friends.
“We aren’t as close as we used to be… there’s no hard feelings,” Reese explained, adding that it’s natural for friendships to change over time. “I’m always going to support her.”
The rift surprised many, as the duo was inseparable during their time at LSU, where they became icons in the new NIL era, scoring major endorsement deals and helping LSU women’s basketball claim its first national championship.
Johnson, who also signed with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation and is building her music career alongside her basketball stardom, still sees Reese as a significant figure in her development.
Angel helped me make a huge leap from freshman to sophomore year,”Johnson admitted. With Reese now in the WNBA, Johnson is ready to step into a bigger role at LSU for her junior year, as she eyes another deep tournament run.
Despite their drift, there’s no bad blood, just two stars blazing their own paths. And with both of them continuing to shine-Reese in the WNBA and Johnson taking on a leadership role at LSU-their futures look bright, even if they’re no longer side-by-side.