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Just a couple of years ago, the idea of Caitlin Clark and Raven Johnson sharing a locker room would’ve felt almost unthinkable. That infamous wave from Clark during the 2023 Final Four had all the ingredients of a classic villain origin story for Johnson. But instead, it seems like there’s no real animosity between the two.
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Raven Johnson and Caitlin Clark haven’t discussed the “wave off” incident from years ago. But they are moving on. “We’re teammates now, and we have one goal; that’s to win a championship,” declared Johnson. And the latest moments in practice suggest they are evolving into more than just teammates, as Johnson has declared Clark the “Goat”.
Clark received the ball at half court, took a couple of dribbles and drained her signature logo three, receiving cheers from the crowd. Johnson dapped Clark up and then looked right at the camera and said, “The Goat right there.”
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Caitlin Clark knocks down the triple and Raven Johnson was loving it 🤝 pic.twitter.com/lpncwFaqjy
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) April 27, 2026
When Raven Johnson was selected by the Indiana Fever with the No. 10 pick, it drew plenty of criticism from the fanbase. Not because of her past with Caitlin Clark, but because a guard wasn’t exactly what the Fever needed. After losing size with players like Natasha Howard, many expected them to address the frontcourt. But GM Amber Cox clearly had a vision, and she knew exactly what she was doing by picking Johnson.
“I think, you know, Raven. While she’s played primarily point guard, she has the ability to transition and become a really great combo guard,” she said. “Having a rookie coming in for several years along with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey makes the team really, really tough and provides so much depth, especially on the defensive end of the court.”
The Fever were in desperate need of backcourt depth after what unfolded last season. At one point, they were without almost their entire guard rotation. No Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald. That’s not something the front office wanted to go through again. And Johnson wasn’t drafted just because she’s a guard, she fits the system too.
Johnson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2026, a rare feat for a guard, becoming just the third to win it in the last decade. So for those concerned about the Indiana Fever lacking on the defensive end, she could prove to be a valuable addition. While she’s not known as a shooter, her offensive game has steadily improved during her time at South Carolina. In the 2025–26 season, she shot a career-best 38.9% from three, while averaging 9.9 points and 5.1 assists with just 1.6 turnovers per game.
So when Caitlin Clark says, “We want to play in transition, and we want to play with a lot of pace. We want to outlet to the near guard. If that’s not me, I need to get down the court, and that allows people to come screen for me and get open. It also makes the other team get cross-matched. Watch out, the Indiana Fever may have just added another piece who fits perfectly alongside Clark.
Coach Stephanie White now has real flexibility with Raven Johnson in the team. She can play her off the ball to maximize her improving shooting, or trust her as the primary ball handler. That, in turn, gives Clark more chances to operate off the ball, easing the constant double teams and helping her stay effective without always having to initiate the offense.
But talent alone isn’t enough; you need chemistry to make it work. And that’s exactly what’s starting to show between the group and Raven Johnson.
We saw it during their preseason game against the New York Liberty. During a timeout, while coach Stephanie White was leading the huddle, Raven Johnson and Caitlin Clark shared a light moment; you could see them laughing after Johnson leaned in and said something to Clark. And it wasn’t just Clark, Johnson seems to be building strong chemistry with the rest of the group as well.
Recently, a new training video has surfaced showing Raven Johnson right in the mix with the “tres leches,” as Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull were seen helping Sophie Cunningham with skipping drills. Who knows; maybe that popular trio is about to expand this season?
Well, either way, her teammates have clearly taken a liking to the former South Carolina guard.
Aliyah Boston highlighted how the rookie can push the pace, helping the Indiana Fever stay uptempo even when Caitlin Clark gets a breather. Meanwhile, Sophie Cunningham was full of praise, saying, “Raven Johnson is a fricking dawg. We had our first day at training camp, and I just like love her. I think she’s going to be fantastic.”
That said, Raven Johnson calling Caitlin Clark the GOAT instantly caught the attention of Indiana Fever fans, who have now fully embraced her as one of their own.
“Destroying Narratives”: Fans See Raven Johnson and Caitlin Clark Silencing Doubts
“THE GOAT, SAY IT LOUD QUEEN!!!,” wrote a fan. “Raven called her the goat! Love it. We need this,” wrote the fan. Johnson further doubled down on her take, reposting that reel on her IG Stories with the goat emoji.
Yet, Caitlin Clark is far from being a Goat, it’s still a work in progress. But she could be on her way. In two seasons Clark has averaged 18.5 points, 8.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds, including one very injury-prone season. She has the talent to be in the conversation, but there are a lot more hills to climb. If you talk about popularity, TV ratings and merchandise sales Clark is well and truly the Goat. She was literally named the “Goat of TV Ratings” by the Wall Street Journal.
But on the court, the likes of A’ja Wilson, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi and others remain ahead for now. But this is not about Clark actually being the Goat, but it’s about the team chemistry.
“Destroying narratives lets goooooo! I can’t wait for Raven to lock down Chennedy! @IndianaFever,” wrote one. “That sound you just heard was a million bad faith narratives crying out all at once and being suddenly silenced,” commented another. Many fans and experts across the league thought Johnson was a subpar pick for the Fever. Fans questioned the team and the locker room fit. Many identified two issues: the Fever had too many guards, and Johnson is not a shooter.
But the first preseason game showed Johnson can flourish in this system and multiple incidents, including this one, have demonstrated that she has become one of the Fever and blended into that locker room.
“Ohhh Raven 😅You are becoming a fan favorite already ❤️🔥” wrote a fan. Johnson already impressed the fan base with her performance on her preseason debut. Johnson had 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting, along with three rebounds, a game-high eight assists, a steal and two blocks in 17 minutes of action.
She helped lead Indiana to a lopsided 109-91 victory over the New York Liberty. Her defensive intensity and just the vibes on the court with Clark helped flip the switch regarding her fit with the team. Now, she is completely blending in with the team. However, this is still only a start. The team has championship aspirations and they have a long way to go to become the best.
Written by
Edited by
Snigdhaa Jaiswal