Caitlin Clark, Raven Johnson's Full-Circle Journey Now a Fever Teammate Story
Three years after Caitlin Clark waved off Raven Johnson from the 3-point line in a viral Final Four moment, the two former rivals are now teammates with the Indiana Fever, and their growing chemistry has become one of the WNBA playoffs' most compelling storylines.
Johnson, a rookie who once admitted the moment nearly drove her from basketball, is now hearing encouragement from Clark during games. The pair helped Indiana force a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces with a 99-89 victory, keeping the Fever's championship hopes alive.
Historic Performance Keeps Fever's Season Alive
Clark delivered a historic stat line in the must-win Game 2, posting 27 points, 15 assists, and 7 rebounds. The performance drew praise across the basketball world and underscored why many consider her the face of the league.
Johnson provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block on 3-of-5 shooting. She also hit a buzzer-beater at halftime that pushed the Fever's lead to 48-43.
It was only Johnson's second WNBA playoff game, but she looked at home on the big stage.
From Viral Rivalry to Teammate Chemistry
The backstory makes their partnership remarkable. In the 2023 NCAA Women's Final Four, Clark and Iowa handed undefeated South Carolina its first loss, 77-73. During that game, Clark left Johnson open beyond the arc and waved her off, daring her to shoot.
The clip went viral and stayed with Johnson. She later revealed she rewatched it more than 100 times and even considered quitting basketball.
Johnson got her