The Night Before the Draft, Flau’jae Johnson Had Her Entire World In One Room
At Seiless in Manhattan on April 12, the night before the 2026 WNBA Draft, I caught Flau’jae between moments — family on all sides, both grandmothers in the same room for the first time since the last family reunion, her little brothers in the mix. She was decked out in a striking head-to-toe black latex outfit, full e.l.f. glam, and by every measure, was ready. What she didn’t know that night was that her family had been quietly slipping upstairs, leaving her voicemails on a rotary phone — an installation AT&T put together as part of this intimate pre-draft celebration, and an extension of their “She’s Connected” docu-series, where they’ve been following her life across basketball and business. What followed between us was a conversation about how she takes care of herself off the court, a tender ritual between her and her grandma Pansy, and what it actually felt like to stand at the edge of everything changing. How are you feeling tonight? Very excited. This party seems amazing. My whole family is here — my little brothers, my grandmas. All my grandmas in one spot. It’s a beautiful time. And tomorrow? It’s like an anxious excitement. It feels like an award show — and I’ve been to a lot of award shows. I got a chance to meet my fellow draftees and build relationships. So it’s been pretty good. Has your whole family been together like this before? We only really get together at family reunions. So having everybody together right now? I love it. That’s my vibe. What does recovery look like for you? How do you take care of your body off the court? Definitely the compression boots — Therabody. But also days off. When you’re playing basketball, you can be so engulfed in it. You really gotta take your time and do something else or you’re gonna lose your mind. Having that balance is everything. Your skin is seriously good. What’s the situation? I’m wearing e.l.f. right now. My makeup looks fine. Sometimes I wash my face, sometimes I don’t. But it’s working. Fragrance — are you a fragrance person? I’m a gatekeeper, but… I’m wearing Valentino It’s super fun. Beyond the boots — are there any body rituals? Something people wouldn’t expect? My grandma Pansy came to my house during the my last season at LSU and we made body butters together. She handmade them — organic. She wanted my skin to be glowing. I have different flavors: lavender, cinnamon, peppermint, and a regular. Cocoa and shea butter base. We actually made them ourselves. The rotary phone upstairs — people have been leaving you messages all night. What does it mean to you to have all of these people here, in this moment? Super excited to hear them. There are so many people who’ve been on my journey and helped me — they don’t even know. Little or big things, even just advice. I’m ready to hear how excited they are for me. I was thinking about this weekend from a different perspective…if I was somebody’s auntie, how I would feel if someone I knew was going to the draft. And I’m starting to understand how big this is. Having my family here, what they’re going to say… it’s a type of memory that lasts forever. I’m glad AT&T could be a part of it. Super dope. The next day, Flau’jae Johnson was drafted 8th overall by the Golden State Valkyries and traded to the Seattle Storm within the hour. She opens her first regular season game tonight at Climate Pledge Arena — against the Valkyries. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Unbothered attended the Overtime x Flau’jae Draft Party as a guest of AT&T. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Black News 
At Seiless in Manhattan on April 12, the night before the 2026 WNBA Draft, I caught Flau’jae between moments — family on all sides, both grandmothers in the same room for the first time since the last family reunion, her little brothers in the mix. She was decked out in a striking head-to-toe black latex outfit, full e.l.f. glam, and by every measure, was ready.
What she didn’t know that night was that her family had been quietly slipping upstairs, leaving her voicemails on a rotary phone — an installation AT&T put together as part of this intimate pre-draft celebration, and an extension of their “She’s Connected” docu-series, where they’ve been following her life across basketball and business.
What followed between us was a conversation about how she takes care of herself off the court, a tender ritual between her and her grandma Pansy, and what it actually felt like to stand at the edge of everything changing.
How are you feeling tonight?
Very excited. This party seems amazing. My whole family is here — my little brothers, my grandmas. All my grandmas in one spot. It’s a beautiful time.
And tomorrow?
It’s like an anxious excitement. It feels like an award show — and I’ve been to a lot of award shows. I got a chance to meet my fellow draftees and build relationships. So it’s been pretty good.
Has your whole family been together like this before?
We only really get together at family reunions. So having everybody together right now? I love it. That’s my vibe.
What does recovery look like for you? How do you take care of your body off the court?
Definitely the compression boots — Therabody. But also days off. When you’re playing basketball, you can be so engulfed in it. You really gotta take your time and do something else or you’re gonna lose your mind. Having that balance is everything.
Your skin is seriously good. What’s the situation?
I’m wearing e.l.f. right now. My makeup looks fine. Sometimes I wash my face, sometimes I don’t. But it’s working.
Fragrance — are you a fragrance person?
I’m a gatekeeper, but… I’m wearing Valentino It’s super fun.
Beyond the boots — are there any body rituals? Something people wouldn’t expect?
My grandma Pansy came to my house during the my last season at LSU and we made body butters together. She handmade them — organic. She wanted my skin to be glowing. I have different flavors: lavender, cinnamon, peppermint, and a regular. Cocoa and shea butter base. We actually made them ourselves.
The rotary phone upstairs — people have been leaving you messages all night. What does it mean to you to have all of these people here, in this moment?
Super excited to hear them. There are so many people who’ve been on my journey and helped me — they don’t even know. Little or big things, even just advice. I’m ready to hear how excited they are for me.
I was thinking about this weekend from a different perspective…if I was somebody’s auntie, how I would feel if someone I knew was going to the draft. And I’m starting to understand how big this is. Having my family here, what they’re going to say… it’s a type of memory that lasts forever.
I’m glad AT&T could be a part of it. Super dope.
The next day, Flau’jae Johnson was drafted 8th overall by the Golden State Valkyries and traded to the Seattle Storm within the hour. She opens her first regular season game tonight at Climate Pledge Arena — against the Valkyries.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Unbothered attended the Overtime x Flau’jae Draft Party as a guest of AT&T.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
