Johnson enrolled at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2008. She recorded 36 double-doubles over the course of her college career. Johnson completed her bachelor's degree in global studies in three years, and earned a master's degree in communications during her fourth year of basketball eligibility.
Johnson was selected in the first round of the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock. In her rookie season, she was ranked fourth in steals per game. In 2013 and 2014, her second and third seasons with the Shock, Johnson was named in the Western Conference All-Star team. Johnson sat out the 2015 WNBA season on a maternity leave after announcing her pregnancy. She returned one month into the 2016 WNBA season after her suspension stemming from her domestic violence incident with Brittney Griner. By this time the Tulsa Shock had relocated to Dallas and were renamed the Dallas Wings, Johnson had re-signed with the team during free agency. Johnson averaged 11.3 ppg in 18 games with 6 starts. Also during her comeback season, she recorded the league's 16th 20-point, 20-rebound performance of the season in a win against the Phoenix Mercury when she scored 23 points along with a career-high 22 rebounds. During the 2017 season, Johnson continued to put double-doubles in rebounds and points which is what she has become statistically known for earlier on in her career. On June 18, 2017, Johnson score a season-high 27 points in an 87-83 win over the Washington Mystics. From July 31 to August 6, Johnson named the Western Conference player of the week. On August 19, 2017, Johnson recorded her 13th double-double of the season, scoring 23 points along with 13 rebounds in a 90-86 win over the Atlanta Dream. During the game, Johnson threw a punch at Dream's point guardMatee Ajavon and served a one-game suspension two days later. The Wings would finish with a 16-18 record and the number 7 seed in the league. In her first career playoff game, Johnson scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a losing effort to the Washington Mystics in the first round elimination game. In 2018, Johnson had a bit of a challenging season with a couple injuries sidelining her for a few games and causing her to play some games off the bench. She played 29 games with 17 starts and would average career-lows in scoring and rebounding. The Wings would still make the playoffs with a 15-19 record and the 8th seed in the league. They would once again be a first-round exit as they lost to the Phoenix Mercury.
Overseas
From 2012 to 2015, Johnson played three off-seasons in Russia for two different teams; Chevakata Vologda and Nadezhda Orenburg. As of November 2016, Johnson signed with the Xinjiang Tiashan Deers of the WCBA for the 2016-17 off-season. In August 2018, Johnson signed with Hatay BB of the Turkish League for the 2018-19 off-season.
WNBA career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
Personal life
On August 14, 2014, it was announced that Johnson and fellow WNBA player Brittney Griner were engaged. On April 22, 2015, both women were arrested for physically attacking each other after police broke up a fight between the two in their Goodyear, Arizona home. Both sustained minor injuries after the incident. Nevertheless, the couple stayed together and married on May 8, 2015. It was announced on June 4, 2015 that Johnson was pregnant and that she would miss the 2015 WNBA season. One day later, Griner filed for annulment which was rejected. Johnson gave birth to twin girls in October 2015, 16 weeks premature. Griner has no biological connection to the twins as it was revealed that Johnson had gotten pregnant through IVF treatment using her eggs and a sperm donation. The divorce was finalized in June 2016.
