‘She’s a winner’: ESPN analysts talk Raven Johnson’s rising WNBA Draft stock
Raven Johnson has at least one game left in a South Carolina uniform.
The No. 1 seed Gamecocks will play No. 1 overall seed UConn in the 2026 Final Four on Friday. A win would send South Carolina to the national championship for the third year in a row.
Johnson’s career with the Gamecocks will end this weekend in Phoenix. Whether it’s with another championship or in a disappointing loss remains to be seen.
What is certain, though, is that Johnson’s playing days are far from over.
The 2026 WNBA Draft is just around the corner and set to take place in New York on April 13. Last year, Johnson wasn’t a top name in the draft. But after a career-best senior season, Johnson could be a first-round draft pick in 2026.
“She knew last year, people counted her out, [saying] she’s not gonna get drafted,” said Johnson’s teammate Maryam Dauda. “She took that personally, and she spent a lot of time this summer working on her game. … It’s been showing throughout the season.”
A few ESPN women’s basketball analysts believe Johnson has done nothing but improve her draft stock during the 2025-26 season.
“It’s huge,” ESPN’s Andraya Carter said. “I’ve talked to a lot of GMs, I think of one that I was on the phone with last week, and this particular GM was like, ‘Man, I love Raven.’ And I’m like, yeah, how do you not love Raven?” Carter said. “She’s a winner. Like, she’s a winner.”
Johnson is projected to be a first-round draft pick in recent mock drafts from Yahoo Sports, The Sporting News and Tankathon. More in-depth mock drafts will likely be released in the days following the WNBA’s expansion draft (April 3) and draft declaration deadline for eligible players still participating in March Madness (48 hours after the player’s team is eliminated). For example, ESPN hasn’t updated its mock draft, in which Johnson wasn’t listed, since February.
All three mock drafts from Yahoo Sports, The Sporting News and Tankathon project Johnson to be selected by the Golden State Valkyries with the No. 8 overall pick.
Carter praised Johnson for her offensive improvement this year. Johnson has enjoyed somewhat of an offensive renaissance this year, averaging career-high numbers across the board. The point guard is scoring 10.2 points per game and shooting at a 50% clip from the field and making 41.4% of her 3-pointers.
Johnson also tallied career-highs in effective field goal percentage (56.7%), true shooting percentage (58.8%), assists (5.3 per game) and offensive win shares (4.8).
“So there are a lot of things that I feel like coaches and GMs have seen this year from Raven,” Carter said. “… She was already checking a lot of boxes, but I think checking them in a bigger, stronger way for sure. I’ve talked to a few GMs and there’s really not anything that they’re not impressed with about Raven.”
ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike recalled a moment from Johnson in February when “College GameDay” was in Columbia that was a small piece of a season that has “thoroughly impressed” her.
“It’s probably 7:30, 8 p.m. and in comes Raven … just in sweats, to come and shoot,” Ogwumike said. “That told me everything I need to know. That told me why she’s playing her best basketball right now, because she does the things that most people don’t, and she’s walked through a fire that most people can’t.”
While much has been made of Johnson’s offensive improvement, her continued dominance of defense will be another reason she’ll get first-round looks in the WNBA Draft.
Johnson was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this season. She averaged 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and has a defensive box plus-minus of 7.6 this year.
“I think many teams are looking at her, seeing how she leads, how she can play,” Ogwumike said. “She can attract talent, but also how she can play with great posts. She can lead a team, and she just continues to exceed expectations. I’m excited for her.”
While media members, WNBA front offices and fans alike are looking forward to the 2026 WNBA Draft, Johnson isn’t giving much thought to it.
Johnson is more focused on winning a third national title with the Gamecocks and will worry about the draft when the time comes.
“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about the draft or the WNBA,” Johnson said. “I’m just thinking about winning, things that’s current. I say, whatever happens, happens. … I’m just thinking around winning a national championship.”
