In the 2023 Final Four, Raven Johnson was openly challenged by none other than Caitlin Clark. But, she could not do anything about it.

 Back then, the Hawkeyes had defeated South Carolina 77-73. The moment of disrespect came in the first quarter of that game. Johnson dribbled the ball to the three-point line. But Clark waved off Johnson, who shot 24% from 3, leaving her completely unguarded. Johnson was shocked but refused to take a wide-open shot that went viral. Cut to today. Johnson reveals how that virality and backlash impacted her at the time. 

“I was all over the internet,” She said in an interview on the “I am Next” show.  “That’s one reason I hate the internet now, because of that situation. I got bashed, I got bullied, I got called all these things that I wasn’t, aka like a monkey or this. It was just things like that, and I just thought I wanted to quit basketball at that time. I wanted to go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”

Even at the time, she did not blame Clark for being competitive. Clark’s assignment on Johnson that night was also part of Iowa’s defensive plan, as Johnson had made just 11 three-pointers all season entering the semifinal and was shooting 21.2% from deep, allowing Iowa to conserve Clark’s energy for offense while packing the paint against South Carolina’s interior strength.
But now, sharing what helped her deal with it all, Johnson finds comfort in the fact that she redeemed herself the very next year.

“I leaned on God,” She said. “I had some wonderful teammates, wonderful people in my life, and they helped me find that light, and they put so much fuel to the fire for me to go back the next year. We were undefeated and met that team again, and we beat them. So I think it was all God’s plan, honestly.”

It was the national championship game in 2024. Once again, Clark was on fire. She set a championship record with 18 points in the first quarter itself. But in the second quarter, Dawn Staley switched Raven Johnson onto Clark. The game completely flipped from there. With Johnson as the primary defender, Clark made 5 of 20 shots, scored just 12 points, and even committed 4 turnovers. It was a moment of redemption.
But she did not need that. Before the game itself, Clark had praised Johnson for her evolution.  

Johnson later described Clark’s wave-off as motivation rather than something she wanted to dwell on, calling it “the best thing that ever happened to me” because it pushed her back into the gym to work on her biggest weakness. She reportedly put up around 200 shots a day as part of that offseason response.

“I think Raven’s had a tremendous year,” Clark said Saturday. “I think not only from a shooting perspective but also as the point guard of a team, as the guard of a team, she’s been a true leader. She’s led that team.”

So, it was a full-circle occasion for Johnson. Her growth as a perimeter shooter reflected that shift as well, as she nearly doubled her three-point production the following season and raised her efficiency to 36.8% after entering the Final Four matchup the previous year as a non-factor from deep. Now in her final year with the Gamecocks, Johnson has just led the team to another Elite Eight.

Now in her final year with the Gamecocks, Johnson has just led the team to another Elite 8. 

Raven Johnson Reveals The Secret Behind Her Leadership After Booking Elite 8 Spot 

Raven Johnson has grown through the years at South Carolina. From a role player still learning the ropes, she is now the primary leader of this side. Going up against Oklahoma, Raven Johnson scored 18 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds to help the top-seeded Gamecocks beat No. 4 seed Oklahoma 94-68. 

But it was not only about her scoring. She was often seen guiding young guards like Maddy McDaniel from the sidelines. She was in the game even when she was not. To which she pointed as the primary factor behind this growth. 

“I’ve been here four, five, five times now. Five times,” She said. “And I think experience does matter. I think using my voice goes a long way. They listen, and when Maddie is on the floor, I try to calm her down. She’s next up, and I think she does a really good job of learning and leading us too.”

Moments like Clark waving her off, her ACL injury, and her mental health struggles played an important part in Johnson becoming what she is today. Johnson pointed out that she deliberately worked on the mental aspect of the game after the Clark incident. “

I didn’t even want to eat or walk out of the room. I lost myself, and I definitely don’t want to go back to that phase of my life. But maybe I needed that to find who I am today,” she shared.

That confidence has translated directly into impact moments as well, including a clutch late three-pointer in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 that helped South Carolina hold off Indiana during its unbeaten title run, reinforcing how far she had come from the player defenses once ignored on the perimeter.

Now, Johnson and South Carolina move on to the Elite 8 with the aim of another national championship.