May 9, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson (3) dribbles the ball while Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
May 9, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson (3) dribbles the ball while Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Despite a neck-and-neck battle with the Dallas Wings, the Indiana Fever had to open their season with a loss. And following that, Coach Stephanie White assessed Raven Johnson pretty candidly.
The Fever lost 107-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 9. And making her WNBA debut, White noted how the rookie performed during the matchup.
“A little bit of nerves, as you would expect,” White said of Johnson postgame. “Sometimes it’s game one, it’s day one, it’s a different environment. Before the game, she was just like, “Man, this crowd is crazy.”
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Raven Johnson who was selected tenth overall by the Indiana Fever during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Raven Johnson who was selected tenth overall by the Indiana Fever during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The former South Carolina star went for 2-of-2 from the FT, finishing with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal under 12 minutes of playtime. But the coach thought that “there were a little nerves” during the game.
However, White assured that Johnson will “settle in… (as) she did some really good things… on the defensive end, pushing the ball, pushing pace.” As a rookie, the growing pains were there. But “she’s going to be fine.”
But it was her defense and pace that were eye-catching, above all. Johnson was always up on the floor with the ball and was comfortable putting pressure on defense, both of which are a natural fit with Indiana’s preferred style.
Raven’s game has just begun, and she’ll get the chance to prove herself eventually as Indiana Fever’s next opponent is the Los Angeles Sparks, with the matchup scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
And the improvement might come faster, given that playing in the WNBA had always been her dream.
Raven Johnson Dreamt of Playing in the WNBA
Most collegiate stars look forward to the WNBA transition. But for Johnson, it started early. And going into the preseason, the 23-year-old could barely contain her excitement.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” she said before the preseason matchup. “I can’t believe I’m in the WNBA. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little girl… Those are the girls I looked up to in middle school. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be crazy.”
Moreover, it didn’t take her long to adapt to the Fever’s style and her new peers. She admitted learning “a lot about moving without the ball in (her) hands.” As “Everyone on this team has an elite-level IQ (and) knows what they’re doing.”
Moving forward, how do you think her performance will look in the Fever’s next games? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy
Edited by
Utsav Gupta