Raven Johnson is heading to the Indiana Fever after being selected as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The former South Carolina Gamecocks star will join forces with Aliyah Boston, who previously told Johnson, “This is your team now,” after Boston’s own departure to the WNBA.
Boston, a 6-foot-5 forward, had guided the Gamecocks to a title in 2022 before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Fever one week later. Johnson spent three more seasons with coach Dawn Staley and secured another national championship in 2024.
Johnson’s Reunion with Boston
Johnson expressed excitement about reuniting with Boston. “It’s so crazy,” Johnson said. “(Boston) taught me so much through my college experience. She taught me what pro habits were … her leadership, (being) a role model, it goes a long way. She is a phenomenal person and instills so much in young people, there’s no way you don’t want to play with somebody like that.”
Johnson will also team up with Caitlin Clark, who was the first overall pick by the Fever in 2024. Johnson and Clark have a 1-1 record against each other. Clark beat Johnson and Boston in the Final Four, but Johnson won a year later in the title game.
Learning from Veterans
Since Boston’s departure in 2023, Johnson has been the leader of the Gamecocks. Now, she anticipates transitioning into a mentee role, particularly alongside Boston, Clark, and veteran guards Kelsey Mitchell and Ty Harris. Harris played for Staley from 2016-2020.
“They have a lot of vets that I can learn from and they’re winners,” Johnson said. “Everybody on that team likes to win and I think that’s what makes that team special, so to go to a team that has the same mentality as me of winning is phenomenal.”
Johnson plans to absorb as much knowledge as possible from her experienced teammates. She said she’ll “be a sponge” and probably a “gnat” because she’ll ask her vets so many questions.
Fever’s Expectations for Johnson
The Fever finished third in the Eastern Conference last year with a 24-20 record.
Amber Cox, the Fever’s general manager, highlighted Johnson’s defensive skills, leadership, and winning pedigree. “She’s the (SEC) Defensive Player of the Year, she is a leader, she’s a competitor from one of the greatest programs in college basketball,” Cox told reporters. “She’s won at the highest level, continued to just grow her game and to watch her this year, take her game to the next level, lead South Carolina, we were just so pumped when she was (available) at No. 10.”
Cox also noted the advantage Johnson gained from playing under Staley. “She has won at the highest level, played on the biggest stage … I always say a point guard playing for a coach like Dawn Staley, who was one of the greatest point guards in our game, you’re gonna learn a lot and she’s been a sponge,” Cox said. “So, I think coming in here, she’s got a leg up.”
- Johnson went 145-9 in games she played in.
- She averaged a career-high 9.9 points and 5.1 assists per game this year.
- Johnson shot a career-best 48.6% from the floor and 39.9% from the 3-point line this year.
Johnson is the highest WNBA draft pick for South Carolina since Kamilla Cardoso went No. 3 overall in 2024.
Fever coach Stephanie White said that Johnson is “immediately ready” on the defensive end.
Johnson’s arrival brings a winning mentality to the Fever, as she joins a team with a shared desire for success.