Flau'jae Johnson Names Drake & Rihanna as Music Muses, Open to RiRi Collab

Flau'jae Johnson hasn't even finished her first WNBA season, and she's already making headlines far beyond the hardwood. The Seattle Storm rookie, who arrived in the Pacific Northwest as one of the most talked-about prospects in recent memory, is turning heads not only for her play but for her personality, including a candid, on Monday Morning before the Seattle Storm take on the Dallas Wings on Monday night in Arlington Texas, revealed her favorite Drake song, declared her undying love for Rihanna's music, and left the door wide open for a music collaboration with the Barbadian superstar herself.

Johnson, who is also a recording artist in her own right, didn't hold back when the subject of music at the Storm's training facility came up. What followed was an unfiltered, joyful deep-dive into her musical soul, and a glimpse into the soundtrack fueling one of the WNBA's brightest new stars.

Drake Has Been Played at Storm Training, But Johnson Has Her Favorite Track

A couple of her IG Lives featured Johnson getting extra shots up after practice at the Seattle Storm training facility, with a lot of Drake's music in the background.

She was quick to point out that the Drake obsession isn't entirely hers to claim, she laughingly assigned that distinction to teammate Taylor Thierry.

"Oh no, that's [Taylor Thierry] she always listened to Drake all day," Johnson said. Still, she didn't distance herself from the love. "I like, I love Drake," she added firmly, before getting specific: "I say Marvin, my favorite Drake song."

"Marvin's Room" — the emotionally raw, late-night anthem from Drake's 2011 album "Take Care" is a telling choice. Known for its vulnerability and confessional energy, the track aligns with Johnson's own artistic sensibilities as a rapper and songwriter. That she gravitates toward one of Drake's most emotionally stripped-down records says something meaningful about where her musical instincts lie, even as she thrives in the hyper-competitive world of professional basketball.

Johnson's Song of the Season: Rihanna's "Kiss It Better"

If Drake is the soundtrack of Storm training, Rihanna is the soundtrack of Flau'jae Johnson's season. The rookie was unequivocal.

"I like, I love Drake, but I like Rihanna. 'Kiss It Better.' That's my song of the season."

"Kiss It Better," the slow-burning R&B standout from Rihanna's 2016 album "Anti," is a masterclass in tension and longing. It's sultry, understated, and powerful — and for Johnson, it apparently captures something essential about this moment in her life and career. Choosing a track from "Anti" is also notable given that the album remains Rihanna's last studio release, now a full decade old and still generating passionate conversation.

That conversation has only intensified recently. Rihanna made headlines when she playfully responded to country singer Whitney Rose, who had posted a selfie video lamenting the long wait for new music and calling her "my queen." Rihanna reposted the clip to her own Instagram Story, joking that she felt "ATTACKED!!!!" with crying-laughing emojis. The exchange was funny, and also a reminder that the entire world, from country singers to WNBA rookies in Seattle, is still waiting on RiRi's next move.

"Hell Yeah": Johnson Is Ready to Collaborate with Rihanna

The most electric moment of the interview came when Johnson was asked about the prospect of a musical collaboration with Rihanna. Without missing a beat, the Storm rookie delivered an answer as confident as her game.

"Hell yeah, if RiRi wants to do a song."

It's a bold declaration, but not an unrealistic one. Johnson entered the WNBA with an existing music career and a fanbase that spans both sports and hip-hop. She has the credibility and the platform to make such a collaboration conceivable, and the enthusiasm she brings to the idea is infectious. Whether Rihanna is listening is another matter but given that the pop icon is clearly still attuned to her fans' energy, stranger things have happened.

Drake's Record-Breaking Milestone Adds Context to the Storm's Favorite Soundtrack

The Drake devotion inside the Storm's training facility is well-timed. The rapper recently made history on the Billboard charts, with his album ICEMAN debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the week of May 30, 2026. The milestone gave Drake his 15th chart-topping album, tying him with Taylor Swift for the most No. 1 Billboard 200 albums among solo artists. The only act ahead of them is The Beatles, who hold 19 No. 1 albums.

That puts Drake in genuinely rare air, the kind of sustained commercial dominance that spans generations of listeners, from dedicated hip-hop heads to WNBA training rooms in Seattle. The fact that both Johnson and Taylor Thierry are apparently running Drake on repeat is a small but telling data point in the broader story of his cultural staying power.

A Rookie Who Brings Her Full Self to the Game

What makes Flau'jae Johnson's comments so refreshing is how naturally they fit into the larger picture of who she is. She is not an athlete who happens to like music. She is a dual creative force — a professional basketball player and a rapper, who has always insisted on being seen as both, fully and unapologetically. Her playlist isn't a curiosity or a fun footnote. It's a window into her creative DNA.

Choosing "Marvin's Room" as her favorite Drake track reveals someone drawn to emotional depth and vulnerability. Declaring "Kiss It Better" her song of the season speaks to a sophisticated ear for R&B texture and feeling. And throwing the door open to a Rihanna collaboration with zero hesitation? That's the energy of someone who knows her worth and isn't afraid to dream out loud.

The Seattle Storm have a fascinating player on their hands. Flau'jae Johnson is bringing her whole self to the Pacific Northwest, the basketball player, the rapper, the Drake fan, the Rihanna devotee, and the dreamer bold enough to say on the record that she'd jump at the chance to make music with one of the biggest artists on the planet. Whether or not that collaboration ever comes to fruition, the statement alone tells you everything you need to know about her: she's here, she's fully herself, and she's not playing small.