Raven Johnson is used to big games, but stepping onto the Barclays Center floor as a pro brings a new feeling. The former South Carolina Gamecocks standout makes her preseason debut Saturday, April 25, as the Indiana Fever take on the New York Liberty in the 2026 preseason opener.
With Caitlin Clark set to make her highly anticipated comeback after ending the 2025 season early due to a groin injury, the basketball world is buzzing about her pairing with the rookie Raven Johnson.
Raven Johnson All-Set Before Preseason Debut
Johnson was the Fever’s 10th overall selection during the 2026 WNBA draft and has expressed her excitement about joining the team and making her WNBA debut.
Heading into the preseason opener, Johnson is aware of both the importance of this first professional game and the challenge of playing against a Liberty squad filled with star veterans.
Johnson anchored the Gamecocks’ defense and played an integral role in their undefeated 2023-24 (38-0) NCAA championship run. She was named 2025-26 SEC Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 1.5 steals per game and consistently affecting opponents’ shooting.
Now, she faces the transition from college star to being a rookie among WNBA veterans, a whirlwind of emotions she appears to handle with optimism.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Johnson shared ahead of the preseason matchup. “I can’t believe I’m in the WNBA. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little girl. I feel like once that first game comes, I’m going to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re playing against New York. This is Sabrina Ionescu. Those are girls I looked up to in middle school.’ It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be crazy.”
Known for her lockdown defense, Johnson quickly adapted during training sessions. Reflecting on learning from her teammates, Johnson said, “I’ve learned a lot about moving without the ball in my hands. Everyone on this team has an elite-level IQ. They move with a purpose, they’re smart, they know what they’re doing- they’re vets.”
Fever’s assistant coach, Briann January, praised Johnson and said, “I’ve been impressed.”
Being nervous before a debut at the biggest stage is natural, and Johnson’s teammate, Lexie Hull, has some advice for her. “Try to have fun with it and play without nerves. … It’s just another basketball game.”
READ MORE: Caitlin Clark Reveals Fever’s Glaring Weakness Entering 2026 Season
With Hull being ruled out for Saturday’s game due to a minor hamstring injury, Raven Johnson’s role becomes even more important in the Fever’s game against Sabrina Ionescu and the Liberty. Ionescu, who set the WNBA single-season record for three-pointers (128) in 2023, presents a major test for the rookie.
The Fever is banking on Johnson’s perimeter defense and hopes that the 23-year-old will develop into a franchise cornerstone along with Clark and Boston.
