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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Raven Johnson walked into the 2026 WNBA Draft with one of the best resumes in college basketball.
A two-time national champion (2022, 2024), SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and 2026 All-American, the South Carolina point guard evolved from elite recruit to tone-setter, anchoring both ends of the floor.
Johnson averaged a career-high 9.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 48.6% from the field during her senior season, pairing efficiency with elite playmaking and defensive instincts.
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Her journey wasn't easy, though.
A knee injury wiped out her freshman year, but what followed was a steady climb into one of the most trusted guards in the country, someone who could control tempo, defend at a high level, and deliver in big moments.
Then came Monday night.
With the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever made it official.
Johnson’s name was called, and in a moment that instantly went viral, she walked toward the stage and into the arms of her college coach, Dawn Staley.
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Staley’s fingerprints are all over Johnson’s development.
Since taking over South Carolina in 2008, Staley has turned the program into a powerhouse: three national championships, eight Final Fours, and a culture built on defense, discipline, and pro-ready talent.
She has won four Naismith Coach of the Year awards, seven SEC Coach of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Johnson, in turn, became a reflection of the identity Staley has built in Columbia. Tough. Unselfish. Relentless on defense.
And that’s why this draft moment hits differently.
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For the Fever, Johnson projects as a high-IQ floor general who can immediately contribute as a connector piece: pushing pace, organizing offense, and guarding opposing lead guards.
In the short term, expect her to carve out minutes as a defensive disruptor and secondary playmaker for a team that just one year ago made it to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.
Long term, there’s legitimate upside for her to grow into a starting-caliber guard who impacts winning, a potential lethal pairing alongside franchise cornerstone Caitlin Clark.
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