As the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks prepare for a 2025-26 season showdown with No. 17 Tennessee, their star guard, Raven Johnson, recently shared her payback plans for Anthony Edwards. With a national championship under her belt and a chip on her shoulder, this Gamecock is looking forward to answering all her critics one way or another.
South Carolina Gamecock’s Raven Johnson Plans To Answer Anthony Edwards’ Critique
In a recent interview with “1801 Media,” Johnson revealed Minnesota Timberwolves star and her childhood friend Anthony Edwards’ blunt criticism of her game, stating, “We lost last year, and he was very mad about it. My trainer coach Justin told me, Anthony said, ‘You need to do this better.'” He criticizes my game a lot… So I need to start criticizing his game more. There you go.”
Their playful banter, rooted in a long-standing friendship, showed Edwards’ role as a mentor figure for Johnson, who wants to push her 4.9 points and 4.2 assists per game from 2024-25. Johnson’s plan to criticize Edwards back seems like a plan for her to push herself to make sure he never gets another opening to poke at her.
Raven Johnson Mastering Staley’s System with Henderson’s Help
In the same interview, Johnson credited former teammate Destanni Henderson for guiding her through Dawn Staley’s demanding system, admitting, “Honestly, it’s not easy. It’s very hard.”
She explained, “Having Henny in front of me… their IQ for the game was very good. They taught me a lot of ins and outs about what I need to do for the point guard role.”
Transitioning from high school to Gamecocks’ complex playbook was a grind, but Henderson’s mentorship helped Johnson shine, leading the Gamecocks to a 38-0 record and a national title in 2024 with a 24-point, 7-assist performance against Iowa.
Edwards’ Influence and Johnson’s Growth
Edwards, praised by Jeff Teague on the “Club 520 Podcast” for his potential to outshine Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a 28-29 point average, has been a figure in Johnson’s development.
His critique comes from their close bond, with Johnson joking he’s her “son.” After her viral wave-off moment against Caitlin Clark in 2023, Edwards offered support. This dynamic helps Johnson’s drive to refine her game.
As South Carolina faces Tennessee, Johnson’s leadership, honed under Staley and Henderson, sets her to answer Edwards’ challenge. With the Gamecocks eyeing another title, Johnson’s “payback” mindset may redefine her legacy and silence her NBA senior.
