The Indiana Fever added a fascinating new piece to their backcourt puzzle, selecting South Carolina's Raven Johnson with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The plan is for the talented guard to provide depth behind superstar Caitlin Clark and free-agent signee Ty Harris.

This pairing, however, comes with a notable history that adds instant intrigue to the Fever's locker room. The basketball world vividly remembers a moment from the 2023 Women's Final Four, when Clark, then at Iowa, famously waved off guarding Johnson as she stood alone on the perimeter, a dismissive gesture that highlighted Johnson's then-struggles from deep.

Johnson later reflected on how that public moment affected her, telling the "I Am Next" podcast, "I got bullied... But, you know, maybe I needed that to find who I am today." That moment became a catalyst for her remarkable development at South Carolina, where she evolved into a national champion and a defensive stalwart.

The narrative came full circle in the 2024 National Championship, where Johnson and the Gamecocks got their revenge, defeating Clark's Hawkeyes. Johnson's defensive effort was key, helping limit Clark to a challenging shooting night. By her final collegiate season, Johnson had transformed her game, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and boosting her three-point shooting to a stellar 39.8%.

Now, that competitive rivalry turns into a professional partnership in Indiana. In her first comments as a member of the Fever, Johnson focused on the opportunity to learn, stating, "They have a lot of vets I could learn from and they're winners." While not mentioning Clark by name, the stage is set for a compelling dynamic where past friction could fuel future growth for both players.

The Fever, aiming to build on their recent success, will debut this new backcourt configuration when they open the 2026 season on May 9th against the Dallas Wings.