Alysha Clark on Flau'jae Johnson: 'She's Come In So Confident' Ahead of Dallas Showdown

Before the Seattle Storm and Dallas Wings tip off Monday night at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington, veteran forward Alysha Clark took a moment to praise the player who has quickly become one of the most electrifying young talents in the WNBA — Seattle's own rookie sensation, Flau'jae Johnson. Clark's words were glowing, measured, and rooted in a deep respect for the game, offering a window into just how much Johnson has already impressed her peers in the league.

Clark Praises Johnson's Poise and Confidence

Clark, a seasoned WNBA veteran known for her defensive tenacity and leadership, did not mince words when asked about the LSU product. In her eyes, Johnson has done something that very few rookies manage to do — enter the league without blinking.

"It's been great to watch her," Clark said. "She's come in and just really, honestly, been so confident, and that's something I think with this rookie class that's come in, you've seen across the board."

That confidence, Clark noted, is not passive or quiet. It shows up on both ends of the floor. Johnson's aggressiveness with the ball, her willingness to press defensively, and her unapologetic approach to the game have turned heads around the league. Clark called out one moment specifically — Johnson admitting she was "a little delusional" when it came to her press defense — not as a critique, but as a badge of honor.

You have to be, you know, in this league to go out here and play at a high level," Clark said. "So I love being able to watch these players come in and transition in so quickly, because it's hard."

It is hard. The jump from college basketball to the WNBA is one of the most demanding transitions in professional sports. The speed of play, the sophistication of scouting, and the physicality of the game can humble even the most decorated college stars. Johnson, however, has made it look seamless — a testament to both her natural gifts and the work she has clearly put in.

A Star Already Embraced by Seattle

Clark also spoke to the connection Johnson has forged with the Seattle fanbase — something that does not always happen immediately, even for high-profile draft picks. Johnson's personality, her music career, and her outsize charisma have combined with on-court production to make her an instant fan favorite in the Pacific Northwest.

"She's been a great player and a piece for Seattle and that organization and that city," Clark said. "I know they've been rallying behind her and love her, and I just love that they get to experience a player like that."

That kind of endorsement from a respected veteran like Clark carries real weight. It signals that Johnson is not just a highlight-reel name but a legitimate contributor to a Storm squad with championship aspirations.

Johnson on Paige Bueckers: 'One of the Best of the Best'

While Clark was singing Johnson's praises, Johnson herself was talking about the player she has long admired and has been eager to compete against — Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers. The two were never able to face each other in college, with their respective programs' schedules never aligning for a head-to-head matchup. That changes tonight.

"I've always wanted to play against Paige," Johnson said. "I've never got to in college. But I love Paige. She's an amazing player, a way better person."

The respect is clearly mutual and deep. Johnson described a shared workout session where Bueckers elevated the competition to another level entirely, showing Johnson the kind of player she aspires to be.

"When we worked out together, she really showed me another level of what it's like," Johnson said. "And that's somebody that I would like to model my game after, especially at the pace that she plays with. She's so under control."

That phrase — "under control" — is the hallmark of truly elite guards. Bueckers has long been praised for her ability to dictate tempo, make reads at high speed, and never appear rattled by the moment. For Johnson to identify that as her north star says a great deal about her basketball IQ and her hunger to grow.

Still, friendship and admiration aside, Johnson made clear she is ready to compete — fully and fiercely.

I'm going to love playing against her. I know it. But I'm ready to compete," she said.

What Makes Johnson So Hard to Guard

When the conversation turned to what makes her such a difficult assignment for opposing defenses, Johnson offered a candid self-scouting report that revealed both self-awareness and a healthy dose of competitive swagger.

"Just a big guard. I like to attack and get downhill," she said. "But I can shoot, I really can shoot the three. And so, just really explosive as well. Like, it's hard to stay in front of me a lot when I decide I want to get downhill."

Johnson also spoke about the adjustment period that most rookies experience, the temptation to do too much, to try to impose a college-level highlight game on a professional environment. She has been actively working against that impulse.

"I feel like in the WNBA, you kind of come into it and you're like, oh, I got to do all this," she said. "But you really don't. You just got to play more under control."

That self-correction — pulling back the impulse to overdo it and instead trusting in simplicity and control — is the mark of a player who understands what it takes to have a long, successful professional career. It is the same quality she admires in Bueckers, and it is something she is actively working to build into her own game.

Tonight's Matchup: Rookie Spotlight in Arlington

College Park Center at the University of Texas at Arlington will be buzzing tonight as the Wings host the Storm in what promises to be one of the more compelling individual matchups of the WNBA regular season. Johnson versus Bueckers, two of the league's most high-profile young players, finally sharing the same floor.

With Clark's words of praise still fresh and Johnson's competitive fire on full display, the stage is set for a memorable night of basketball in North Texas. Whether she is dropping buckets in transition, pressing full-court in what she openly admits is a "delusion," or studying Bueckers' pace of play from up close, Flau'jae Johnson will be must-watch basketball when tip-off arrives.

And if Alysha Clark is watching — she almost certainly will be — she will not be surprised by a single thing she sees.