TAMPA, Fla. — Raven Johnson’s eyes grew broad and her jaw dropped.
“She stated 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 enjoying a team-high 27 minutes to steer her South Carolina Gamecocks to a Last 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 Enviornment on Friday night time 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 sport in 4 years — have been WNBA legends Sue Chicken and Diana Taurasi. The previous UConn teammates have been as soon as once more offering an alternate broadcast to the Last 4 on ESPN+ the place they communicate candidly concerning the sport and its gamers, interview friends, giggle, drink, make jokes and supply evaluation.
Within the third quarter, as South Carolina outscored Texas 20-9 to construct a snug lead and draw back, Johnson out-jumped 6-foot-5 Longhorns’ middle Taylor Jones for a defensive rebound, catching Taurasi’s consideration.
“Raven Johnson may have a house within the WNBA,” stated Taurasi, a six-time Olympic gold medalist and the WNBA’s all-time scoring chief. “Everytime I watch her play, she performs so laborious, competes so laborious.”
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 may have a house within the WNBA… Everytime I watch her play, she performs so laborious, competes so laborious.”
— 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 stated, “I received 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 fascinated with this all day… It means loads, 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 pieces 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 stated she doesn’t rating sufficient and isn’t all that good of a passer. They dismiss her impression 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 informed SB Nation. “And it’s solely being ignored by the people who aren’t truly watching. If you happen to’re truly watching the sport, you’ll be able to see what Raven Johnson does.”
After enjoying simply two video games as a freshman due to a season-ending knee damage, Johnson has been a constant drive for the Gamecocks and somebody who has had an impression 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 school.
Johnson is arguably South Carolina’s smartest defender, its greatest 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 might’ve gone virtually wherever 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 needed 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 damage and watched from the bench, that 2021-22 South Carolina staff gained a nationwide championship behind a staff the place just one participant averaged greater than half-hour per sport and 11 completely different gamers noticed motion in no less than 27 video games. Boston was undoubtedly one of the best participant on the staff, however the squad was not star-driven. Staley went deep into her bench and everybody performed their half. It was concerning the collective unit, the scheme, the staff’s rules 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 stated on Thursday. “I’m studying how to not care and studying that I’m a winner, like (Staley) stated. I do no matter it takes to win.”
Think about that, whereas Johnson solely averages 4.9 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.2 minutes per sport, 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 p.c 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 learn how to defend successfully with out fouling.
“The way in which she has advanced has simply been unimaginable,” Corridor stated. “She’s the anchor of our protection.”
Johnson’s stellar protection was on full show in opposition to 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 with regards to protection,” Johnson stated. “After we’re in entrance of you, simply know you’re going to should make a tricky bucket, truthfully.”
Due to her freshman damage, Johnson might play yet one more season of faculty basketball. She can 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 Group choice might be drafted, both this yr or subsequent, and have a protracted skilled profession.
“All people appears as much as her, she is the face of ladies’s basketball,” Johnson stated of Taurasi. “She has carried out all the pieces somewhat woman might dream of.”
Whereas detractors can have their debates about Johnson’s skills or prospects as an expert, one factor is for certain and inarguable: She is going to go away South Carolina as one of many biggest 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 in opposition to UConn, she’ll have an opportunity so as to add yet one more necessary tally to her giant pile of victories.
