Raven Johnson offers strongest hints yet about her South Carolina future
Raven Johnson has made a decision on her future at South Carolina, but Gamecock fans will have to wait a little bit longer to get the news.
“I have but I can’t announce it yet,” Johnson said Sunday.
Johnson is technically a redshirt junior since she missed all but two games of her freshman year (2021-22) with an injury. She could decide to enter the WNBA Draft after the season concludes, but she could also come back to USC for another year. She could also opt to transfer.
Johnson was asked about her future in the locker room after South Carolina’s 82-59 loss to UConn in the national championship game. The loss to the Huskies “kind of” affected her decision, she said.
“Kind of — yeah it did,” Johnson said. “It’s making me think a little bit because I would love to end on a good note.”
As for what her timeline could be for making her decision, Johnson is keeping things close to the vest.
“Soon,” she said.
After South Carolina’s final game in Colonial Life Arena this season — the second round of the NCAA Tournament — Johnson said she’d know her decision after the Gamecocks had hopefully won a national title.
Johnson was recognized alongside Sania Feagin and Bree Hall during South Carolina’s senior day against Kentucky last month. Feagin and Hall are both out of eligibility.
When Feagin and Hall were subbed out of Sunday’s title game at about the 4-minute mark, Johnson left the game with them.
Moments later, Johnson was in tears on the bench as Hall consoled her.
“I was telling her, it’s OK, it’s fine,” Hall said. “Keep your head up. ... She has been amazing to us. She’s been amazing to this program. I mean, this is just a small bump in the road. We made it farther than what a lot of people thought we would even close to make it. So I just told her just keep your head up, it’s OK.”
After the senior day game, coach Dawn Staley said Johnson’s decision was hers alone to make but that South Carolina would welcome Johnson back with open arms if she chose to return.
Staley echoed that sentiment after the national title loss Sunday.
“Raven and her family will sit down. I’m not in a rush. I hope she’s not in a rush,” Staley said. “But she does have to think about what the next level looks like for her. I’m never going to tell anybody to stay or to go. I always leave it up to them to make that decision. Raven, like many other players, of our former players in that situation, they’ll come up with what’s best for them.
“Whatever that is, we’re going to support it.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM.
