"I'll be better": $1.1M NIL-valued Flau'jae Johnson reflects on intense March Madness run after loss to Caitlin Clark's Iowa

LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson reflected on her progress and that of her team in an Instagram post on Monday, a day after the defending national champion's 94-87 Sweet 16 loss to Iowa.

While Iowa marched on to the Final Four of March Madness, Johnson, with an NIL value of $1.1 million (according to On3), struck a note of resiliency.

"This season has been the hardest season of basketball I've ever played, but also the most rewarding," Johnson wrote. "The amount of perspective I've gained has been incredible. But also my love for not only the game, but for the process has grown so much."

She added:

"Throughout so much adversity, I became closer with God and I've begun to spread that with the world which has been my biggest lesson of it all. I wanna thank our amazing fans for being there with us every step of the way. I LOVE THESE 3 LETTERS SO MUCH [LSU]. ... We'll be back, and I'll be better."

Compared to their storybook 2022-23 season, the Tigers (31-6, 13-3 Southeastern Conference) faced far more national attention and had more bumps. Even so, alongside All-Americans Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, Flau'jae Johnson led LSU to second place, just behind undefeated and top-ranked South Carolina.

Johnson, meanwhile, was a second-team All-SEC selection who averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with a 50.4% field-goal percentage and a 76.9% free-throw percentage.

This season continued her growth from a year ago, when Johnson emerged as the starting shooting guard for the first national championship team in LSU history and was the SEC Freshman of the Year. She averaged 11.0 ppg and 5.9 rpg.

Flau'jae Johnson was LSU's top scorer in Sweet 16 loss to Iowa

LSU v Iowa

In Monday's Sweet 16 loss to No. 1 seed Iowa, Flau'jae Johnson led LSU, which was seeded third in the region, with 23 points and secured six rebounds and two assists.

LSU forward Angel Reese dominated most of the first half and battled out for 17 points, securing 20 rebounds and four assists. In her first Elite Eight tournament game, Aneesah Morrow achieved her 22nd double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and securing 14 rebounds.

Caitlin Clark scored 41 of Iowa’s (33-4, 15-3 Big Ten Conference) 94 points. She also added seven rebounds and 12 assists in the 13th 40-point game of her career.

Kate Martin and Sydney Affolte, each scored in double figures with 21 and 16 points, respectively.