CLEVELAND — After last year’s Final Four game between Iowa and South Carolina, guard Raven Johnson was at the lowest point in her athletic career.
The Gamecocks’ 59-game winning streak had ended by way of the Hawkeyes, who won 77-73 en route to their first national championship appearance in program history.
Johnson was subject to ridicule and embarrassment after a video went viral during the game of Caitlin Clark disrespecting the South Carolina guard’s three-point shooting abilities by leaving her wide open and waving her off.
Caitlin Clark didn’t bother with defending Raven Johnsonpic.twitter.com/UEOzlTfC9V
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 1, 2023
“I remember being in my room just crying every day watching that game over and over,” Johnson said during Saturday’s press conference.
Luckily for Gamecock fans, cooler heads prevailed. Johnson stuck with the game she grew up loving and used the backlash from last year’s Final Four to fuel her best statistical season to date for South Carolina.
She has helped lead her team to a 37-0 record on the season and a trip to the national championship in a rematch against the Hawkeyes.
“I love seeing her growth in confidence as a person and a player,” guard Te-Hina Paopao said during Saturday’s press conference. “She is so much fun to be with, and I got so much love for her.”
In her first season starting consistently for South Carolina, Johnson has almost doubled her points per game from last year with 8.2. Her rebounds and assists per game have also increased. Johnson will most likely have the assignment of guarding Clark, as she is one of her team’s best perimeter defenders, leading the Gamecocks with 2.1 steals per game.
Johnson credited teammate MiLaysia Fulwiley for helping her get out of her rut over last year’s Final Four game and reinvigorating her love for her religion.
“I remember [MiLaysia] came into my room, and she saw me crying one day, I don’t even know how she got in my room. I thought I locked the door, but she got me closer to God,” Johnson said. “I started going to church, and ever since then, my mindset changed, so she’s really the one that helped me deal with it.”
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said Johnson’s success on the court this season has allowed her to better express herself outside of the court with teammates and friends.
“She feels a lot more comfortable to share who she is,” Staley said. “She’s on the pathway of who she wants to be, and she’s not afraid to say or do some things that will rock you a little bit or make you laugh.”
Staley believes Johnson will continue to have a successful career because of how she managed the adversity from the last time these two squads faced off.
“I think when you’re embarrassed, [and] when we lost, like all of that makes you question, and the game will do that to you,” Staley said. “Raven is in a good place, and she’s been given what she needed to learn [during] a young moment in her career, and she will continue to grow.”
News
Taylor Swift sings two diss tracks on nemesis Scooter Braun’s birthday… one day after he announced his retirement from music management
Taylor Swift fans are convinced she shaded her longtime nemesis, Scooter Braun, during her latest surprise acoustic song set on The Eras Tour on Tuesday night. While performing at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, the singer, 34, performed a mashup of her two…
11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Allegedly Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow
The last one is just downright odd. Kathy Hutchins / Sky Cinema / Shutterstock.com Among billionaires, Elon Musk is perhaps one of the most eccentric and well-known around the world. His merry band of supporters that worship his every move and defend…
Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Tortured Relationship
Prince Charles and Diana’s engagement, turbulent marriage, and subsequent divorce captivated the world. Diana and Prince Charles in 1981. KYPROS/GETTY IMAGES. The story of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, is not that of star-crossed lovers. Continuously recounted in film, television, tell-all books,…
Kate Middleton photo controversy: New details show when the photo was edited
Kate issued an apology after news agencies retracted a royal family photo. Princess Kate apologizes amid family photo controversy ABC’s James Longman is at Buckingham Palace with the latest on the royal family. As the photo controversy around Kate Middleton continues to grow, new…
Is Kate and William’s relationship healthy? Body language expert weighs in
Expert reveals intimate moment between Kate and Wills The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Trooping the Color event.LAPRESSE Body language expert Judi James has offered her insights into the dynamic between Kate and Wills, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,…
Princess Diana conspiracy theories: Eight reasons people believe the crash in Paris wasn’t all it seems
More than 20 years on, conspiracy theories continue to rage – despite almost all of them being proven decisively wrong SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy On…
End of content
No more pages to load