Eyeing Final 4, South Carolina's Raven Johnson has backup to lock up TCU's Olivia Miles

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Eyeing Final 4, South Carolina's Raven Johnson has backup to lock up TCU's Olivia Miles

Eyeing Final 4, South Carolina's Raven Johnson has backup to lock up TCU's Olivia Miles

Dylan Clearfield, Special to USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Mar 30, 2026 ·

2 min read

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SACRAMENTO, CA – One matchup that is sure to turn heads when South Carolina and TCU meet in the Elite Eight on Monday is the offensive mastery of TCU's Olivia Miles against the relentless defense of South Carolina's Raven Johnson.

In the eyes of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, it won't be as simple as a one-on-one.

"You do it by committee," Staley said.

A key committee member: freshman guard Agot Makeer. Johnson, a senior who is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, has mentored Makeer to become the next leader of South Carolina's "Seatbelt Gang."

"I feel like that title goes to elite defenders," Makeer said. "Obviously with Raven leaving, someone has to take that title and take that kind of pressure."

Johnson and former Gamecock Bree Hall started the "Seatbelt Gang" last season, adding players such as Te-Hina Paopao -- and now Makeer. Their defensive tenacity has "locked up" many players, and they need another signature performance on March 30 against TCU to reach the Gamecocks' sixth consecutive Final Four.

"The future of the seat belt gang, as of today," South Carolina assistant coach Wendale Farrow said, "is Agot Makeer strapped up with the seat belt."

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

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Denae Fritz #5 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts after a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs her mother after the double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Rhode Island Rams head coach Tammi Reiss gives a hug to Rhode Island Rams guard Sophia Vital (15) in the waning moments of the Rams' loss to Alabama in the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
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Bailey Burns #11 of the Jacksonville Dolphins exits the court after the game against the LSU Tigers in first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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When Johnson was a freshman, she dubbed upperclassmen such as Aliyah Boston the "Grandmas" because of how they mentored her with tough love. Similarly, Johnson has thrown Makeer in the fire.

"Usually Ray has the defensive assignment of the game," Makeer said. "She'll come up to me and she'll be like, 'Do you want to guard her?' I'll be like, 'OK, yeah, I got you.' Just her believing in me to guard her matchup has been really cool."

Johnson, though, doesn't want the "Grandma" moniker.

"No, no, no," Johnson said. "Don't ever consider me that. I'm still young and turnt, I will always be young and turnt and forever be young and turnt."

Regardless of Johnson's characterization, she is among the most impactful leaders on this South Carolina team.

"Raven just pours into everybody," sophomore guard Maddy McDaniel said. "All the underclassmen, everybody under her, she is so excited for just seeing people flourish and grow."

Gamecocks players and coaches feel certain that Johnson-esque elite defensive seasons -- and the accolades that come with it -- are in Makeer's future.

"I think Gotti is the perfect person to carry that legacy," freshman guard Ayla McDowell said.

Perhaps Makeer also is the perfect defensive menace to help Johnson stop Miles and carry South Carolina past TCU, into another Final Four.

Dylan Clearfield is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina's Raven Johnson faces TCU's Olivia Miles in women's Elite 8

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Eyeing Final 4, South Carolina's Raven Johnson has backup to lock up TCU's Olivia Miles

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