How Raven Johnson made Dawn Staley sweat a little after 'storybook' final home game

Story by

Story by
How Raven Johnson made Dawn Staley sweat a little after 'storybook' final home game

How Raven Johnson made Dawn Staley sweat a little after 'storybook' final home game

Lulu Kesin, Greenville News · Greenville News

Tue, Mar 24, 2026 ·

3 min read

About Our Ads

COLUMBIA — Raven Johnson walked off the court one last time in Colonial Life Arena clapping to the beat of the crowd chanting her name.

South Carolina women's basketball fans weren't going to let the fifth-year point guard go out unnoticed or uncelebrated.

Johnson got to soak in all she's done for the program stress-free. The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (33-3) beat No. 9 Southern Cal 101-61 in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament March 23, allowing coach Dawn Staley to pull her most vital player off the floor with seven minutes left.

"It's a storybook ending, I hope it continues throughout this tournament," Staley said. "I'm happy Raven is getting her flowers, finally, at the end of her career. Something we've given her but I think the rest of the country is finally seeing what she means to our program."

1 /16

South Carolina women's basketball vs USC, Joyce Edwards, Jazzy Davidson see our top photos

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) and South Carolina forward Maryam Dauda (30) warm up together with a ball handling drill, before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson (5) Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) practices before the game with Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

University of Southern California and University of South Carolina warm up before the game Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

University of Southern California forward Jazzy Davidson (9) warms up before the game with University of South Carolina Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) dances a little with guard Tessa Johnson (5) ,left, before warming up for the game with Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards (8) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina center Madina Okot (11) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Alicia Tournebize (31) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Ayla McDowell (24) warms up before the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

South Carolina forward Alicia Tournebize (31) gets ready to warm up for the game with University of Southern California Monday, March 23, 2026, during the first quarter NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina)

This game was about the fifth-year senior, regardless if she cares or not.

She scored her 1,000th career point in the victory in the most Johnson way possible. She picked the passing lane of two guards and was all alone, scoring a fast-break layup to reach the milestone.

Johnson needed seven points and scored exactly that, finishing with four assists and two steals.

"Everybody keeps saying a thousand this, that, and a third. I'm not really thinking of that," Johnson said. "I'm worried about winning a national championship. That's the main goal, so, yeah, whatever comes with it, comes with it."

When Johnson sat at the podium post-game, the natural first question was about her emotions leaving the floor in CLA for the last time.

She turned to look at Staley, then looked back, saying, "You want the truth?" immediately resulting in a subtle "Oh my god," and look of fear from Staley, who has repeatedly said Johnson's comedic side keeps her on her toes.

"It hasn't hit me yet because we're not done yet," Johnson said, followed by a Staley sigh of relief.

She knows that the crowd and the fans are tearful at the thought of her last game for South Carolina but she's not giving in yet.

And as a result, neither is Staley.

"I can't be serious with Raven," Staley said of what she thought subbing Johnson out. "I just checked her temperature, she looked around ... that means she's locked in. Raven just wants to win another national championship and I hope she gets that because I do think she deserves it."

Johnson has played in 142 wins for South Carolina, the second most in program history. She's trying to the first Staley player to win three national championships. The quest continues on March 28 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) against Oklahoma, which marks Johnson's fifth straight Sweet 16.

When she's in the building, or on the court, her focus is unwavered. Even nights where nearly every fan is out of their seat to applaud her, she doesn't let herself think about it.

"I'm not going to cry but maybe at home I'm going to cry, behind closed doors," Johnson said.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky ‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Raven Johnson, Dawn Staley share moment after star's final home game

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: