Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP and two-time champion, joined Showtime Basketball’s weekly podcast series “All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. She discussed the WNBA, NIL and which college players she sees transitioning to the league from college.
Wilson was asked which player in the women’s collegiate basketball landscape has a bright future and after thinking for a few seconds, she said South Carolina guard Raven Johnson.
“I’m going to be obviously biased with my Gamecocks, (so) I would say Raven (Johnson),” Wilson said. “I’m not just saying this because she’s South Carolina (but) you’re being taught by Dawn Staley at the point guard position. I feel like you don’t get a better situation than that and I think her being disrespected in the Final Four last year kind of woke her up in a sense that’s like, ‘Oh, bet. Like cool, this is what y’all are going to say?’ … I feel like she is going to be a star.”
Johnson is a sophomore at South Carolina, but has already played in the Final Four, was voted onto the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023 and was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2021.
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