Dawn Staley Praises Raven Johnson After WNBA Preseason Debut with Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever played their first preseason game against the New York Liberty on Saturday, resulting in a 109-91 victory for the Fever. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who coached Raven Johnson for five years at the university, posted a message on X following the game. Staley noted Johnson's comfort on the court and praised her as an elite defender, point guard, and playmaker.

and Johnson won two national championships together during Johnson's time at South Carolina, where the team achieved a 145-9 overall record. Johnson left the program after a 79-51 loss to UCLA in the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game on April 5.

On April 13, the Indiana Fever selected Johnson with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Staley attended the draft and hugged Johnson upon her selection.

the preseason game, Johnson recorded six points on 3-of-3 shooting, eight assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 18 minutes off the bench. Staley also sent an encouraging message to former South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson, a rookie with the Los Angeles Sparks. The Indiana Fever are scheduled to open their 2026 regular season against the Dallas Wings on May 9.