1 month ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
The newest personnel of nan Indiana Fever, Raven Johnson, who nan squad took pinch nan 10th wide prime successful nan WNBA Draft connected Monday, will subordinate forces pinch Caitlin Clark aft a tensely competitory infinitesimal betwixt nan 2 galore years ago.
In nan 2023 NCAA women's Final Four, Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes met Johnson's South Carolina Gamecocks. During that game, location was a infinitesimal erstwhile Clark was expected to beryllium guarding Johnson, but Clark waved Johnson disconnected to double-team different South Carolina player.
The clip of Clark waving disconnected Johnson ended up going viral, and Johnson later said it resulted successful online insult against her.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defender Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles nan shot past South Carolina Gamecocks defender Raven Johnson (25) successful nan finals of nan Final Four of nan women's 2024 NCAA Tournament astatine Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. (Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports)
"I was each complete nan internet," Johnson said connected nan "I AM NEXT" podcast successful March. "That's 1 logic I dislike nan net now, because of that situation. I sewage bashed, I sewage bullied, I sewage called each these things I wasn't, aka for illustration a monkey and things for illustration that, and I conscionable deliberation I wanted to discontinue hoops astatine that time, and I conscionable wanted to spell successful this small bubble of isolation and conscionable beryllium by myself."
Still, Johnson appears excited to now beryllium connected nan aforesaid broadside arsenic Clark.
After Johnson was drafted by the Fever connected Monday, she said Clark is nan teammate she's astir excited to play pinch successful nan pros.
FEVER'S LEXIE HULL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACKS ON PLAYERS AS TEAM'S POPULARITY GROWS DURING CAITLIN CLARK ERA
Raven Johnson #25 of nan South Carolina Gamecocks reacts successful nan first half during nan 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship against nan Iowa Hawkeyes astatine Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse connected April 07, 2024 successful Cleveland, Ohio. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
"Caitlin Clark," Johnson said instantly erstwhile asked by Overtime WBB which caller teammate she’s astir excited to play with. "... She’s a phenomenal player, pinch nan things she does, it’s barroom standard. She tin sprout nan ball, she tin lead a team, and they win. She has a winning mentality, and I deliberation that’s nan biggest thing."
The Fever person solidified their roster going into nan 2026 play arsenic a existent title contender.
The squad precocious re-signed cardinal players Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham, while adding seasoned Monique Billings successful free agency.
The Fever person nan fourth-best likelihood to triumph nan WNBA title successful 2026 down nan Minnesota Lynx, nan defending champion Las Vegas Aces and nan New York Liberty.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Iowa defender Caitlin Clark (22) drives up tribunal past South Carolina defender Raven Johnson, left, during nan first half of nan Final Four assemblage hoops title crippled successful nan women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, successful Cleveland. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
The Fever's play ended successful 107-98 overtime nonaccomplishment to nan Las Vegas Aces successful Game 5 of nan WNBA semifinals past year.
With Clark returning from injury, their halfway intact and astatine slightest 1 caller addition, Indiana is looking to decorativeness nan job.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Jackson Thompson is simply a sports newsman for Fox News Digital covering captious governmental and taste issues successful sports, pinch an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited successful national authorities actions related to nan enforcement of Title IX, and successful bequest media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
