Caitlin Clark's Newest Fever Teammate Has Dramatic History with Superstar

Raven Johnson joins Indiana Fever after viral 2023 NCAA Final Four moment with Clark.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the overlapping movements and perspectives of a basketball game, with the players' forms fractured and abstracted into sharp, angular shapes.A tense on-court rivalry between two rising WNBA stars takes on new meaning as they join forces in pursuit of a championship.Las Vegas Today

The newest member of the Indiana Fever, Raven Johnson, will join forces with star player Caitlin Clark after a tense competitive moment between the two during the 2023 NCAA women's Final Four. Johnson says the viral clip of Clark waving her off led to online bullying and mockery, but she's now excited to play alongside Clark as the Fever aim for a WNBA title.

Why it matters

The addition of Johnson to the Fever roster, along with the team's other key offseason moves, has solidified Indiana as a true championship contender in the 2026 WNBA season. The history between Johnson and Clark adds an intriguing personal dynamic to their partnership as they look to lead the Fever to the title.

The details

In the 2023 NCAA women's Final Four, Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes met Johnson's South Carolina Gamecocks. During the game, there was a moment when Clark was supposed to be guarding Johnson, but Clark waved Johnson off to double-team another South Carolina player. The clip of Clark waving off Johnson went viral, and Johnson later said it resulted in online mockery and bullying against her.

  • In the 2023 NCAA women's Final Four, the moment between Clark and Johnson occurred.
  • On Monday, Johnson was drafted 10th overall by the Indiana Fever.

The players

Raven Johnson

The newest member of the Indiana Fever, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Caitlin Clark

The star player for the Indiana Fever, who has a history with Raven Johnson dating back to their matchup in the 2023 NCAA women's Final Four.

Kelsey Mitchell

A key player for the Indiana Fever who the team recently re-signed.

Lexie Hull

A key player for the Indiana Fever who the team recently re-signed.

Sophie Cunningham

A key player for the Indiana Fever who the team recently re-signed.

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What they’re saying

“I was all over the internet. 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 I wasn't, aka like a monkey and things like that, and I just think I wanted to quit basketball at that time, and I just wanted to go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”

— Raven Johnson, Player

“Caitlin Clark. ... She's a phenomenal player, with the things she does, it's bar standard. She can shoot the ball, she can lead a team, and they win. She has a winning mentality, and I think that's the biggest thing.”

— Raven Johnson, Player

What’s next

The Fever have solidified their roster going into the 2026 season as a true championship contender. With Clark returning from injury, their core intact, and the addition of Johnson, Indiana is looking to finish the job and win the WNBA title.

The takeaway

The history between Johnson and Clark adds an intriguing personal dynamic to their partnership on the Fever, as the team aims to capitalize on its talented roster and make a run at the WNBA championship in 2026.