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Raven Johnson Reflects on Rivalry with Caitlin Clark as Indiana Fever Teammates
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- Raven Johnson Reflects on Rivalry with Caitlin Clark as Indiana Fever Teammates
Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson is moving past her college rivalry with Caitlin Clark and focusing on her professional career. The Fever selected the South Carolina Gamecocks standout with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. This selection brings Johnson together with Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick.
The two shared a contentious moment in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Johnson's South Carolina faced Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four. In the first quarter, the former Iowa star waved off her assignment to guard Johnson near the three-point line. With Clark leaving her open, Johnson had to decide whether to shoot.
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The Atlanta native opted not to take the shot, fearing she might miss. That night, Clark delivered a dominant performance. She finished with 41 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead Iowa into the national championship game. Johnson ended the game with 13 points, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball in the first half against the Connecticut Sun. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Johnson later admitted that the incident embarrassed her and damaged her confidence, which lingered long after South Carolina's loss. She said she also experienced intense social media backlash, which made her consider leaving the sport . Despite the setback, Johnson remained in South Carolina and bounced back strongly. She turned her viral moment into motivation to improve her outside shooting and overall game.
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Johnson and Clark met again in the 2024 national championship, and this time the former Gamecocks star turned the tables. Johnson helped South Carolina defeat Iowa 87–75 to cap a perfect 38–0 season.
Now teammates in Indiana, Johnson recently reflected on their past and her new role alongside Clark. The 5-foot-8 guard emphasized that any lingering tension has been replaced by a shared goal of winning a championship.
"Yeah, I put the past in the past," Johnson told reporters. "Honestly, when I put the Indiana Fever jersey on, I said, ' Let's try to win the championship together.'
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"And I think, you know, with her, that's all she talks about, is winning, pro habits, and like, the little margin or room for error is very small when it comes to the finals games."
The 23-year-old added that Clark's singular focus on winning has already set a positive tone for their partnership as teammates.
"She talks a lot about that," Johnson continued. "So I just be telling her, like, I want to do whatever it takes to win. I want to win the championship, and that's really the big goal for me and my teammates."
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Johnson brings a decorated resume to the Fever after five years at South Carolina. Serving as a starter for three seasons, she played a pivotal role in securing the Gamecocks' national championships in 2022 and 2024 .
As a senior during the 2025 season, Johnson averaged 9.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. She demonstrated remarkable efficiency, hitting 48.6% of her shots from the field and 39.8% from 3-point range. With her shooting ability and versatility, Johnson can significantly contribute to Indiana's pursuit of a WNBA title.
Related: Caitlin Clark Speaks Out on Raven Johnson After Fever Loss
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
