Caitlin Clark draws message from Fever rookie Raven Johnson after controversy

Caitlin Clark and new Indiana Fever recruit Raven Johnson have history.

These two are now officially teammates after the Fever selected Johnson as the 10th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The 5-foot-8 guard is expected to serve as Clark’s backup as Johnson looks to establish herself under head coach Stephanie White’s system.

It wasn’t too long ago when these two were competitors on opposing teams. At one point, Clark’s disrespectful move on Johnson during a game blew up online. It got so big that it evolved into one of the most controversial moments in Johnson’s career. So much so that Johnson later admitted that she nearly quit basketball because of it.

Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes faced off against Johnson and the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA women’s Final Four in 2023. Clark waved Johnson off after the latter found herself open beyond the arc. Johnson ended up passing on the shot, but it was Clark’s infamous wave-off that went viral.

Johnson revealed that she “got bullied” online after the incident. “I wanted to quit basketball at that time,” she admitted.

Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson praises Caitlin Clark

Johnson has since moved on. It has been a couple of years since her unwanted encounter with Clark. At this point in her career, the 23-year-old is focused on developing into the best player she can be at the professional level.

In fact, Johnson expressed her excitement about playing alongside Clark. In an interview shortly after Monday’s draft, Johnson said that among all the Fever players, it’s Clark whom she’s most looking forward to teaming up with.

“She’s a phenomenal player,” Johnson said of Clark. “With the things she does, it’s bar standard. She can shoot the ball, could lead a team, and they win. She has a winning mentality. And I think that’s the biggest thing.”

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Johnson is all about winning as well. She won two national championships during her five years at South Carolina. She came up just short of a third title after the Gamecocks lost to the UCLA Bruins in the national championship game on April 5.

Clark and Johnson may have been involved in some controversy in the past, but there is clearly no bad blood between them.

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