Raven Johnson looked as WNBA-ready as she could on her Indiana Fever debut. The point guard had 6 points on a perfect 3-3 shooting. However, the highlight came with her non-scoring abilities as she chipped in with 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in just 18 minutes. It was a statement from the No. 10 draftee and one of her closest WNBA friends, Angel Reese took notice, firing off a 5-word message to her ‘booskie.’
The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year dreamt of this moment and was even starstruck before this debut. “I’m going to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re playing against New York. This is Sabrina Ionescu. Those are girls I looked up to in middle school,’” Johnson had said before the game. However, when the game came, none of those jitters showed and Angel Reese immediately sent her mark of approval.
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“so proud of my booskieeee @HollywoodRaven,” Reese wrote. While those two competed against each other at LSU and South Carolina, they have become friends off the court while partnering up for the national team as well. Johnson and Reese even celebrated Gamecocks 2024 title win on a video call.
A true comrade, Angel Reese had sent her welcome when Raven got drafted. “Your journey has been so inspiring, and you’re just getting started. See you in the W! 🤍🙏🏽” she wrote. And Johnson is already impressing at the highest level.
“I thought Raven did a great job,” her coach Stephanie White said. “Certainly, we know what she can bring on the defensive end of the floor, and she’s going to continue to bring that night in and night out, and then she’s just going to learn on the offensive end, learn what we’re looking to get out of certain actions, learn how to create the matchups that we want, and learn how to create an advantage. It’s different than in college, and she’s a sponge.”
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Johnson got the first taste of the WNBA and her first matchup with Angel Reese is slated back-to-back on 19th and 20th June. Safe to say, the one who wins will earn the bragging rights in this friendship. By that time, Johnson should be acclimatized to the new league. She has already shown the maturity of a WNBA player, but there were still a few lighthearted rookie moments off the court.
Raven Johnson Accidentally Reveals Play Call After Liberty Win
Raven Johnson was a leader on the court. If not already, after this performance she secured her place in the rotation next to Caitlin Clark. Like White said, “You can’t teach those go-go gadget arms.” Johnson has developed a mentor-mentee relationship with Clark, as she revealed to have asked her “1000 questions.”
However, there is still some training to do as far as media is concerned. While explaining how Clark is helping her grow, Johnson accidentally revealed an internal code for a play call.
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“She’s the one that I’ve been asking a lot of questions to,” Johnson said (via Indy star). “Actually, she helps me a lot. I’m like, ‘What is red?’ And she says, ‘It’s trap,’ and I’m like wow, it’s that simple—’
White immediately cut her off with a laugh, saying, “You just gave away our call.” An embarrassed Johnson immediately covered her face, staring at White in fear as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added, “I was just about to say that.”
Ultimately, Johnson is still a rookie despite what her performance suggested. And there will be slip-ups on the court as well. She will go through the motions that every rookie goes through. In Clark’s rookie year, she had to overcome physicality and the overwhelming pressure. But she soldiered through. And Johnson’s attitude also suggests she is ready to face whatever comes.
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