Why South Carolina star Raven Johnson's defense is key for Caitlin Clark, Fever

Raven Johnson always had defensive prowess and high-level court vision, but polishing her scoring abilities turned her into a first-round WNBA draft pick.

The 5-foot-8 point guard went from 4.9 points per game her junior year to 9.9 as a senior, shooting a career-best 48.6% from the 3-point line for South Carolina women’s basketball in 2025-26.

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She went No. 10 overall to the Indiana Fever in April, joining dominant scoring guards like Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.

Those two account for 50% of the offense through five games, with other guards chipping in between 8.2 and 2.6 points a night. Even with Johnson’s improved shooting, it’s the other side of the ball where she brings the most value.

“Indiana desperately needs Raven as a defender, that’s going to be the difference between Indiana going somewhere in the playoffs and not. We know they’re going to be able to score, but can they defend?” said ESPN women’s basketball writer Michael Voepel. “That’s some place where I think she can absolutely earn her minutes is the way that she could defend.”

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Raven Johnson, Indiana Fever guard, South Carolina women’s basketball star

May 20, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson (3) dribbles the ball while Portland Fire center Megan Gustafson (17) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Johnson is averaging 2.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 12.2 minutes off the bench per game.

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Clark only played 13 games last season due to various injuries and as the season progressed, it felt like a chain reaction of injuries for the Fever. At first, some were confused by the Fever drafting another guard, but Johnson adds depth and diversifies the type of guard play.

“I think people obviously are going to look for her to bring that offense, but I’m not,” said USA TODAY Sports senior WNBA reporter Meghan L. Hall. “My head is, how can Raven impact in terms of facilitating, dishing it out to her teammates, clearing the floor, making sure people are in their right places and, she’s an absolute menace on the defensive end.”

More: How Madina Okot is holding her own in WNBA, even vs South Carolina legend A’ja Wilson

On May 20, the depth was needed as Clark missed the game with a back injury. Johnson played a career-high 22 minutes in the 90-73 win. She scored a career-high nine points with three rebounds but shot just 1-of-8 from the 3-point line.

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She took 12 shots total, having only taken one per game in her first four.

“They weren’t guarding her so when you’re open, she’s going to shoot it,” Fever coach Stephanie White said. “I think there’s a difference in the type of shots, the drive and kick spray shots of course we want her to take. Sometimes teams are going to dare her to do that and it’s our job to try to help her understand what to do next while she’s working on the consistency from 3-point line.”

The Fever are averaging 94.4 points but allowing 88, including two games where they’ve given up over 100, an area that needs to improve.

“I thought her activity level on the defensive end was really good for us,” White said. “She can guard bigger than her position and she can guard in a versatile way and it really helped impact us.”

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Johnson gives a different look on both sides of the ball. Her quickness and IQ combine for transition basketball that Indiana looks for. She has long, strong arms that allow her to disrupt passing lanes and layups but also excels in halfcourt man defense.

“I think she was the perfect fit to go to Indiana,” said Wilton Jackson II, who covers the Dream and the SEC for The IX. “Wouldn’t be surprised if depending on the matchup against really physical elite guard play, I could easily see Raven’s minutes increasing.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why Raven Johnson’s defense is key for Indiana Fever as WNBA rookie

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