The Indiana Fever selected South Carolina’s Raven Johnson with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The plan is for Johnson to back up Fever superstar Caitlin Clark and free-agent signee Ty Harris at point guard.
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You have to wonder if anyone ran the pick by Clark. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star famously waved away the responsibility of guarding Johnson during the 2023 Women’s Final Four.
MORE: Cathy Engelbert takes awkward jab at reporter during 2026 WNBA Draft
As Johnson dribbled all alone near the 3-point line in the first quarter of Iowa’s 77-73 semifinal victory, Clark remained in the lane, waving dismissively. Johnson shot 24.1 percent from long distance that season.
Later, Johnson said the aftermath of Clark’s action hurt her.
“I got bullied. … I wanted to go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself,” Johnson said on the “I Am Next” podcast, per The Athletic.
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“But, you know, maybe I needed that to find who I am today.”
Johnson is rightfully proud of what she accomplished in five seasons at South Carolina. She was a member of two national championship teams, though she only played two games during the 2021-22 title campaign.
However, the Gamecocks and Johnson got revenge on Clark and the Hawkeyes during the 2024 Women’s Final Four. South Carolina defeated Iowa 87-75 in the title game. Johnson guarded Clark and limited her to 30 points on 10-of-28 field-goal shooting.
In 2025-26, Johnson averaged 9.9 points, 5.1 assists and 4 rebounds per game for the Gamecocks, who made it back to the NCAA title game before falling to the UCLA Bruins. She improved her 3-point shooting percentage to 39.8.
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Johnson claimed the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award and a third-team Associated Press All-American honor.
After the pick, the Indiana Fever posted a video of GM Amber Cox and head coach Stephanie White video-chatting with Johnson.
In a release from the team, Johnson didn’t mention Clark by name, but she indicated she is looking forward to learning from Indiana veterans. Guards Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham are returning to the Fever as well.
“They have a lot of vets I could learn from and they’re winners,” Johnson said. “Everybody on that team likes to win. I think that’s what makes that team special.”
The Indiana Fever open the 2026 WNBA season on Saturday, May 9, against the Dallas Wings.
