TAMPA, Fla. — Raven Johnson’s eyes grew extensive and her jaw dropped.
“She mentioned that? Is that actual?”
She referred to as her teammate Sania Feagin over and pointed to the tweet proven on a reporter’s cellphone: “Take a look at this!”
Whereas Johnson was taking part in a team-high 27 minutes to steer her South Carolina Gamecocks to a Ultimate 4 victory over Texas, maybe the best WNBA participant of all-time was heaping reward on her. A senior guard for the reigning nationwide champs, Johnson tallied two factors, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 74-57 win over Texas within the nationwide semifinals in Tampa’s Amalie Area on Friday evening in entrance of an introduced crowd of 19,731 followers.
Two of the folks within the constructing for South Carolina’s win — marking their third journey to the nationwide title recreation in 4 years — had been WNBA legends Sue Hen and Diana Taurasi. The previous UConn teammates had been as soon as once more offering an alternate broadcast to the Ultimate 4 on ESPN+ the place they communicate candidly in regards to the recreation and its gamers, interview visitors, chuckle, drink, make jokes and supply evaluation.
Within the third quarter, as South Carolina outscored Texas 20-9 to construct a cushty lead and draw back, Johnson out-jumped 6-foot-5 Longhorns’ heart Taylor Jones for a defensive rebound, catching Taurasi’s consideration.
“Raven Johnson could have a house within the WNBA,” mentioned Taurasi, a six-time Olympic gold medalist and the WNBA’s all-time scoring chief. “Everytime I watch her play, she performs so exhausting, competes so exhausting.”
A reporter listening to the alternate broadcast posted that quote on X the place it went a bit viral, garnering greater than 119,000 views. Johnson didn’t see it till somebody confirmed it to her within the locker room after the Gamecocks’ win.
Diana Taurasi: “Raven Johnson could have a house within the WNBA… Everytime I watch her play, she performs so exhausting, competes so exhausting.”
— Mitchell Northam (@primetimeMitch) April 5, 2025
She grew visibly emotional and was considerably speechless at first when requested for her response. She lined her mouth, sat down after which stood again up, confirmed the publish to Feagin, after which mentioned, “I acquired to ship this to my mother.”
Johnson then added: “She’s just like the Kobe Bryant of ladies’s basketball. I’m going to be interested by this all day… It means rather a lot, truthfully. She’s a legend. This woman is aware of basketball… I don’t even know what to say. That’s loopy… From her? It’s nice. It is a GOAT.”
These compliments from an all-time WNBA nice meant all the things to Johnson, who has been scrutinized and criticized all through her profession, regardless of being a key ingredient to South Carolina’s profitable recipe. Individuals have mentioned she doesn’t rating sufficient and isn’t all that good of a passer. They dismiss her affect as a result of her stats don’t pop off the web page.
However these folks — let’s name them Johnson’s haters and doubters — don’t know ball.
“It’s completely ridiculous that individuals don’t respect her the best way that she needs to be revered,” Johnson’s South Carolina teammate Bree Corridor advised SB Nation. “And it’s solely being missed by the folks that aren’t really watching. In the event you’re really watching the sport, you’ll be able to see what Raven Johnson does.”
After taking part in simply two video games as a freshman due to a season-ending knee harm, Johnson has been a constant power for the Gamecocks and somebody who has had an affect in an entire lot of essential victories. Over the previous few seasons, South Carolina is 107-4 in video games that Johnson performs in — giving her a 96.3 profitable share in faculty.
Johnson is arguably South Carolina’s smartest defender, its finest passer, and its most selfless participant. She was the No. 2 total recruit popping out of Atlanta, Georgia’s Westlake Excessive College in 2021. She may’ve gone nearly anyplace within the nation, and to many locations the place she would’ve had the liberty to hunt photographs and pad her stats.
As an alternative, she selected Staley, South Carolina and a system match. She wished to win.
Johnson was introduced right into a program that was on the time led by Aliyah Boston and “the Freshies.” As Johnson recovered from her knee harm and watched from the bench, that 2021-22 South Carolina group gained a nationwide championship behind a group the place just one participant averaged greater than half-hour per recreation and 11 completely different gamers noticed motion in no less than 27 video games. Boston was undoubtedly one of the best participant on the group, however the squad was not star-driven. Staley went deep into her bench and everybody performed their half. It was in regards to the collective unit, the scheme, the group’s ideas and identification. It’s a program the place everybody understands their position, and Johnson has thrived in hers.
“Actually, I was an individual that listened to naysayers and stuff like that,” Johnson mentioned on Thursday. “I’m studying how to not care and studying that I’m a winner, like (Staley) mentioned. I do no matter it takes to win.”
Contemplate that, whereas Johnson solely averages 4.9 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.2 minutes per recreation, she led the SEC in assist-turnover ratio this season with a +3.26 mark — a program-record for the three-time nationwide champs. She additionally posted a 1.6 % foul fee within the SEC this season, which was fourth-best within the league. Put extra merely, Johnson takes care of the ball higher than anybody else in arguably the hardest ladies’s basketball league within the nation, and is aware of tips on how to defend successfully with out fouling.
“The best way she has developed has simply been unimaginable,” Corridor mentioned. “She’s the anchor of our protection.”
Johnson’s stellar protection was on full show towards Texas. Late within the first quarter, with South Carolina trailing by 5 factors, Johnson tracked Longhorns’ guard Rori Harmon and stuffed her shot close to the rim, sending Harmon to the ground and giving possession and momentum to the Gamecocks. What adopted was an 11-7 run for South Carolina to shut the opening body.
“Don’t come on our island relating to protection,” Johnson mentioned. “After we’re in entrance of you, simply know you’re going to need to make a troublesome bucket, truthfully.”
Due to her freshman harm, Johnson may play yet another season of faculty basketball. She can also be eligible for the WNBA Draft as a result of she turned 22 years outdated earlier this yr.
If Taurasi’s evaluation is any indication, the SEC All-Defensive Staff choice shall be drafted, both this yr or subsequent, and have a protracted skilled profession.
“Everyone appears to be like as much as her, she is the face of ladies’s basketball,” Johnson mentioned of Taurasi. “She has achieved all the things somewhat lady may dream of.”
Whereas detractors can have their debates about Johnson’s abilities or prospects as an expert, one factor is for certain and inarguable: She’s going to depart South Carolina as one of many best winners in program historical past. Final yr, she led the undefeated Gamecocks in minutes performed and assists, after which racked up 5 rebounds, 4 steals, three assists, three factors and two blocks of their nationwide title win over Iowa.
On Sunday towards UConn, she’ll have an opportunity so as to add yet another necessary tally to her giant pile of victories.
