Storm rookie Flau'jae Johnson named WNBA All-Star player host
Storm rookie Flau'jae Johnson named WNBA All-Star player host
Cydney Henderson, USA TODAYTue, July 21, 2026 at 11:57 PM UTC
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Seattle Storm rookie Flau'jae Johnson is ready to flex her emcee skills.
The WNBA has tapped Johnson — a multihyphenate basketball star and rapper signed under RocNation — to serve as a player host at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
Johnson will take over the WNBA's social media channels "all weekend long," the league teased on Tuesday, July 21, hosting everything from the orange carpet to the All-Star Game on Saturday, July 25.
Hosting is right in Johnson's wheelhouse. The 22-year-old served as a presenter at the 2026 BET Awards on June 28 in Los Angeles, one day after dropping a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Storm's 105-90 win over the Atlanta Dream on June 27. "In under 24 hours, I went straight from the court to the carpet, and right back to the court," Johnson wrote on Instagram at the time.
More: A guide to 2026 WNBA All-Star weekend: Schedule, coaches, rosters
Johnson showcased both of her passions earlier this year. Ahead of being drafted out of LSU in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft in April, Johnson released a new single titled “Whoa," which was eventually played on the stage after WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert called her name and officially ushered her into the league.
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"Just the fact that I can do both and show people I can do both on my draft night," Johnson said on the orange carpet. "I'm probably gonna get drafted to' my song. 'Whoa' is gonna play. So make sure y'all go check it out."
Johnson, 22, is averaging 13.6 points a game, which ranks second among rookies behind Minnesota Lynx All-Star Olivia Miles. Johnson is also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, while shooting 39.6% from the field and 29.6% from the 3-point line.
The Storm yielded one All-Star this year in center Dominique Malonga, who was voted as a reserve by the league's head coaches after leading the Storm in points (16.0), rebounds (8.5) and blocks (1.2). Malonga was drafted by Team Cynthia Cooper. Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman is set to participate in the 2026 WNBA All-Star 3-Point contest on Friday.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flau'jae Johnson named host for WNBA All-Star Weekend
Source: “AOL Sports”
