After the Indiana Fever selected Raven Johnson in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, some members of the team’s fanbase reacted negatively due to her history with Caitlin Clark.
Fever coach Stephanie White liked Johnson’s fit with the roster, while general manager Amber Cox was pretty ecstatic since she thought the South Carolina guard was getting picked early in the draft.
Johnson is the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year. She was vital in two South Carolina NCAA championship wins in 2022 and 2024.
What Happened Between Clark and Johnson?
GettyCaitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes dribbles around Raven Johnson #25 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half during the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Back in 2023, during the Final Four matchup between South Carolina and Iowa, Clark backed and waved off Johnson, who was wide open for a 3-point shot. The moment went viral, and Johnson was ridiculed and trolled on social media.
In an appearance on the I AM ATHLETE podcast last week, Johnson opened up about the viral incident and how the online hate took a toll on her.
“I got bashed, I got bullied,” Johnson said, via Sports Illustrated’s Andy Nesbitt. “I got called all these things that I wasn’t, I wanted to quit basketball at that time and go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”
Johnson was able to overcome the predicament and get her “revenge” on Clark the following year. They dominated Iowa in the national championship game, beating Clark in her final collegiate game.
Aliyah Boston Shuts Down Any Issues Between Clark and Johnson
GettyAliyah Boston #7 of the Indiana Fever during the game against the Las Vegas Aces in Game Three of the semifinals of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
If there’s any heat between Clark and Johnson, Aliyah Boston seems to be the perfect peacemaker. She has been Clark’s running mate in Indiana for the past two seasons. She was also teammates with Johnson at South Carolina from 2021 to 2023.
Speaking on the latest episode of her Post Moves podcast with Candace Parker, Boston addressed the narrative surrounding Clark and Johnson. She assured the fanbase that there’s nothing to worry about since players are more chill than their supporters.
“It’s so funny, the fans always have more beef than the players actually do,” Boston said. “So it’s always entertaining, you read all this stuff, and fans are hating on one person, hating on another. And then you’re playing with that said person. And so I think it’s going to be fine. Everyone has their thoughts, but when you come in, and you’re in the gym and you’re ready to hoop, that’s literally all it is.”
Boston added that she also didn’t know what to expect when Clark arrived in Indiana, especially with her history against South Carolina. They sat down, talked about what happened during their matchups and became great teammates.
Johnson Can’t Wait to Play with Clark
GettyRaven Johnson (L) of South Carolina poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 10th pick in the first round by the Indiana Fever during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
If Boston’s remarks about the Clark-Johnson aren’t enough, the No. 10 pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft told Overtime WBB that she couldn’t wait to play with Caitlin.
“She is a phenomenal player,” Johnson said, via Grant Young of Fever on SI. I mean, with the things she does, it’s bar standard. She can shoot the ball, can lead a team, and they win. Like, she has a winning mentality. And I think that’s the biggest thing.”
The Fever are set to begin training camp on April 19, with their first preseason game scheduled for April 25.
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