South Carolina's Raven Johnson emerges as star after Caitlin Clark wave-off

The Gamecocks point guard looks to lead her team to a national title after a viral moment against Iowa in 2022.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:38am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the energy and intensity of the competition.A cubist interpretation of the intense matchup between South Carolina's Raven Johnson and Iowa's Caitlin Clark, showcasing the skill and competitive spirit of women's basketball.Atlanta Today

Raven Johnson, the starting point guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, has emerged as a star player this season. Johnson, who played for the same high school as teammate Ta'Niya Lawson, has averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game over her four-year collegiate career. She is dating Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, who was part of the team that won Super Bowl LX. Johnson made headlines in 2022 when Iowa's Caitlin Clark waved her off during a game, a moment that Johnson said "hurt me" at the time. However, in 2024, Johnson held Clark to just 7 points on 3-of-11 shooting when she was the primary defender.

Why it matters

Johnson's emergence as a star player for the Gamecocks comes at a crucial time, as the team looks to avenge their 2025 championship loss to UConn. Her ability to shut down elite players like Caitlin Clark, as well as her strong all-around game, make her a key piece for South Carolina as they chase their first national title since 2017.

The details

Johnson has been a part of the Gamecocks team since the 2021-2022 season, but her first season was cut short after just two games due to a season-ending knee injury. Since then, she has averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. She is known for her quickness and ability to get to the hoop, and if she can't score, she is adept at finding her talented teammates. Johnson caused a stir when she said on the 'I Am Athlete' podcast that women's basketball is more skilled than the men's game.

  • Johnson played in only 2 games during the 2021-2022 season due to a season-ending knee injury.
  • In 2022, Johnson went viral after Caitlin Clark waved her off during a game between South Carolina and Iowa.
  • In 2024, Johnson was the primary defender on Clark and held her to just 7 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

The players

Raven Johnson

The starting point guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. She has averaged 6.7 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game over her four-year collegiate career.

Caitlin Clark

The star player for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team. In 2022, she famously waved off Johnson during a game, a moment that Johnson said "hurt me" at the time.

Nick Emmanwori

The safety for the Seattle Seahawks who was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is dating Raven Johnson and was part of the Seahawks team that won Super Bowl LX.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. She has led the team to six straight Final Four appearances.

Ta'Niya Lawson

A teammate of Raven Johnson on the South Carolina Gamecocks. The two played together at Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“If you watch the NBA it's a one man show... if you're watching women's basketball you're watching people COMPETE.”

— Raven Johnson, South Carolina Gamecocks point guard

“I got bashed, I got bullied, I got called all these things that I wasn't ... It was just things like that, and I just thought I wanted to quit basketball at that time.”

— Raven Johnson, South Carolina Gamecocks point guard

What’s next

Johnson and the Gamecocks will look to avenge their 2025 championship loss to UConn as they make a push for their first national title since 2017.

The takeaway

Raven Johnson has emerged as a star player for the South Carolina Gamecocks, overcoming a viral moment against Caitlin Clark and Iowa in 2022 to become a lockdown defender and all-around contributor. Her leadership and skill will be crucial as the Gamecocks aim to win their first national championship in nearly a decade.