Tag: raven johnson

Raven Johnson revealed a classy gesture from Anthony Edwards after her Caitlin Clark viral wave-off moment

Raven Johnson says Anthony Edwards kept her accountable when she was mentally struggling.

South Carolina women’s basketball star Raven Johnson isn’t the same player she was when Caitlin Clark waived her off during the 2023 Final Four. Johnson did a ton of behind-the-scenes work to pick herself up after that moment went viral and recently revealed that some of that work included connecting with another Atlanta native and friend — Timberwolves phenom Anthony Edwards.

Raven Johnson doesn’t blame Caitlin Clark for the moment. Nearly everything is fair on the basketball court. But the cruel ways social media responded caused Raven to doubt herself — to doubt that she even wanted to play basketball anymore.

She says during some of her darkest days, Atlanta Dream forward and former South Carolina Gamecock Laeticia Amihere poured into her with Bible verses and regular check-ins; Pastor Travis Greene prayed for her and Anthony Edwards called to offer words of wisdom.

Per Johnson’s self-written story in The Players Tribune, this is what Edwards said when he reached out:

He basically told me to use it as fuel to sharpen my game. I remember he was like, “Don’t let this bring you down. You know who you are…so you can’t let this situation change you.”

“You need to get in the gym and work on your weakness…Nothing’s going to be handed to you. You just need to get in the gym and do what others don’t do…”

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WNBA draft pick Nika Mühl headlines 2024 Kelsey Plum Dawg Class

Plum’s initiative with Under Armour was started in 2023 and helps ease the transition from college basketball to the pros.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum announced her 2024 Dawg Class, an initiative with Under Armour started in 2023 to “help ease the transition from college basketball to the pros.”

The second cohort of athletes includes players Plum believes have a tough mentality on the court and deserve a shot to be mentored by her. Some of the players were drafted in the 2024 WNBA draft and some are still in college and not yet eligible to declare for the draft. Plum believes this mix provides a great atmosphere for all players to grow in their journeys.

The players selected to the 2024 Dawg Class:

  1. MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
  2. Raven Johnson, South Carolina
  3. Deja Kelly, North Carolina
  4. Saniya Rivers, NC State
  5. Dyaisha Fair, Aces
  6. Aziaha James, NC State
  7. KK Arnold, UConn
  8. Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
  9. Nika Mühl, Seattle Storm
  10. Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
  11. Aneesah Morrow, LSU
  12. Shyanne Sellers, Maryland

“The Dawg Class with Under Armour will bridge the gap between college and the professional game,” Plum said when she launched the program last spring. “It’s difficult to jump to the next level and I didn’t have anyone helping me navigate the unknown. I want to pass on the knowledge that I’ve gained and the resources available to me now to young women who are about to take that next step.”

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The inaugural 2023 class included Azzi Fudd, Deja Kelly, Diamond Miller, Georgia Amoore, Gianna Kneepkens, Hailey Van Lith, KK Bransford, Raven Johnson and Rori Harmon.

A few players were invited to attend again this season, with Amoore, Johnson and Kelly being repeat dawgs.

The three-day camp will take place at the IMG Academy in Florida in April.

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Women’s NCAA Championship Game: Iowa vs. South Carolina odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Sunday’s Iowa vs. South Carolina odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes (34-4) and South Carolina Gamecocks (37-0) meet Sunday in the National Championship Game of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland is slated for 3 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Iowa vs. South Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

It will be a rematch of a 2023 semifinal as a pair of No. 1 seeds clash in Cleveland.

Iowa advanced after a 71-69 win against No. 3 seed UConn Friday. Things got off to a slow start, but the Hawkeyes came on late. However, there was a controversial offensive foul on the Huskies with 3.9 seconds left with them trailing 70-69. Iowa got the ball back and it hung on for the win, although a late G Caitlin Clark missed free throw helped UConn grab the cover as a 2.5-point underdog.

The Hawkeyes shot just 45.8% (27-of-59) from the field, and just 28.0% (7-of-25) from behind the 3-point line, while turning it over 16 times. Iowa finished with a 37-to-29 rebounding margin as G Sydney Affolter, Clark and G Kate Martin combined for 24 of those boards. Meanwhile, it was F Hannah Stuelke who led the team with 23 points as Clark scored 21 points while struggling from behind the 3-point line (3-for-11).

Iowa has managed a 2-3 against the spread (ATS) mark in its 5 NCAA Tournament games, while the Under holds a slight 3-2 edge.

South Carolina rolled to a 78-59 semifinal win over 11th-seeded NC State Friday. The Gamecocks actually led just 32-31 at halftime, but the Gamecocks used a 29-6 run in the 3rd quarter to pull away for the win and cover as 11.5-point favorites, while the Under (139.5) hung on.

The Gamecocks were led by C Kamilla Cardoso, who went for a game-high 22 points with 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, while shooting an efficient 10-of-12 from the field. G Raven Johnson chipped in with 13 points, while G Te-Hina Paopao ended up with 10 points and a team-best 6 assists.

Like Iowa, South Carolina is 2-3 ATS in the Tournament, while the Under is 4-1 in the 5 outings.

South Carolina is No. 1 and Iowa is No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

Iowa vs. South Carolina odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:08 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Iowa +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | South Carolina -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
  • Against the spread: Iowa +6.5 (-110) | South Carolina -6.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 159.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Iowa vs. South Carolina and predictions

Prediction

South Carolina 81, Iowa 76

Moneyline

South Carolina (-275) will cost 2.75 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward.

The unbeaten Gamecocks should get the job done in this revenge game after being bounced by the Hawkeyes last season in the Final Four, but I’m not willing and can’t suggest backing a -275 favorite in any sport.

However, expect Iowa (+220) to put up a good fight. This should be an epic cap for one of the most memorable seasons in women’s basketball history.

AVOID a moneyline play unless you’re willing to take a chance with Clark and the Hawkeyes.

Against the spread

IOWA +6.5 (-110) is worth backing, catching more than 3 buckets. Clark and Co. will be a tremendous test for unbeaten South Carolina.

Iowa stunned South Carolina last season 77-73 in the Final Four in Dallas, snapping a 42-game win streak for the Gamecocks. Clark scored 41 points to set a Final Four record, and you can bet she’ll be front and center for the Hawkeyes Sunday, especially after an ugly shooting performance in the semifinal against UConn.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

Over/Under

UNDER 159.5 (-110) is the lean in this title game.

The Under has cashed in 4 of 5 NCAA Tournament games for South Carolina, while cashing in 3 of 5 outings for Iowa. The total almost went low in the UConn game, too, but a late free throw by Clark flipped the total in favor of the Over by a half-point.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men’s hoops / Women’s hoops / High School

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March Madness: Championship Game strategy for the $2.5K USA TODAY’s Women’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool

Win $2.5K in the Women’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool: National Championship Game pick and prediction.

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The 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament wraps up Sunday at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Only 53 entries in USA TODAY’s Women’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool contest remain out of the 3,754 who signed up.

The tournament favorite South Carolina Gamecocks (37-0) meet the Iowa Hawkeyes (34-4) for all the marbles in the Women’s NCAA Tournament Championship Game Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).

On Friday, No. 1 overall seed South Carolina took care of NC State 78-59 with C Kamilla Cardoso going for 22 points with 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. The superstar center was a very efficient 10-for-12 from the field, and she was one of three South Carolina players to go for double-digit points.

Gamecocks G Raven Johnson added 13 points, with most of her damage coming on 3 triples, while G Te-Hina Paopao was good for 10 points, 6 assists and a steal, while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

South Carolina shot 50.0% (30-for-60) from the field, including 42.1% (8-for-19) from behind the 3-point line. It managed to get to the free-throw line just 4 times, but it converted 4 shots.

Iowa advanced to the title game for the 2nd consecutive season, easing by UConn 71-69. With 10 seconds to go, the Huskies trailed 70-69 and had the ball, but a controversial offensive foul on F Aaliyah Edwards against G Gabbie Marshall gave the Hawkeyes the ball back with 3.9 seconds to go. G Caitlin Clark was fouled with 3.5 seconds left, hit the 1st free throw and missed the 2nd, but G Sydney Affolter came down with the offensive board and Iowa hung on for the 2-point win.

The Hawkeyes were just 45.8% (27-for-59) from the floor, while going 28.0% (7-for-25) from behind the 3-point line and 71.4% (10-for-14) from the charity stripe. Clark didn’t have her best game but finished with 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting, while going 3-for-11 from downtown. F Hannah Stuelke actually led the Hawkeyes with a game-high 23 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting performance.

South Carolina is No. 1 and Iowa is No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

As for the USA TODAY’s Women’s NCAA Tournament Survivor Pool contest, I had 3 correct picks in the opening round for 12 points but stumbled in the 2nd round and was eliminated when 4th-seeded Kansas State lost to 5th-seeded Colorado. Another 4-seed, Indiana, won for me that round, but the KSU pick did me in.

Despite the loss, I still offered picks in an attempt to help you in your chase for the $2.5K 1st-place prize. Only having to make 1 pick the remaining rounds, rebounded with LSU (3 points) in the Sweet 16 upsetting UCLA in a 78-69 thriller. In the Elite 8, I won with UConn (3 points) against USC. And I won with Iowa (1 point) in the Friday’s semifinal.

As an employee, I wasn’t eligible to win this contest, but there was no rule against me helping you.

A rules reminder: Remaining entries are required to pick the National Championship Game winner — if you still have an eligible team to select.

Points are earned equal to your winning teams’ seeds.

Here is my strategy of which team to pick for Sunday’s championship.

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National Championship Game pick

PICK: SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

I intentionally held off from selecting South Carolina in the earlier rounds in the event it managed to avoid the upset and get to the title game. The strategy worked — excluding my darn K-State pick in the 2nd round.

After selecting Iowa in the Final Four, I didn’t have any other choice for the this round anyway.

Clark and the Hawkeyes are back in the National Championship Game for the 2nd consecutive season.

Unfortunately for them, coach Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks are on a mission, will finish 38-0 and grab the title as Iowa will once again be the bridesmaid — the Hawkeyes lost to LSU in last year’s title game.

Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men’s hoops / Women’s hoops / High School

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Raven Johnson explained how Dawn Staley keeps South Carolina calm with the smoothest motto

“We have THE Dawn Staley…how can you sweat?”

South Carolina has won an impressive 35 games in a row, but their record hasn’t come without some close calls, including Friday’s thriller with Indiana. Sophomore guard Raven Johnson says the team doesn’t panic in those high-pressure situations because of two words: Dawn Staley.

We’ve been saying it all season long, but Dawn Staley is putting on a masterclass in coaching. After losing all five starters from last year’s team to the WNBA, many analysts didn’t think South Carolina would look as dominant as they have. But, despite the doubt, the Gamecocks have churned out an undefeated record — the only team to do so in college basketball. They have won 35 games and recently survived a nail-biter against Indiana that required a clutch 3-point bucket from Raven Johnson to propel South Carolina to the Elite 8.

Bree Hall, Johnson’s teammate and fellow 3-point specialist, was asked why the team continues to succeed in such high-stakes situations. Hall answered the question very transparently, and Johnson quickly followed up, adding a Dawn Staley-themed one-liner for the ages. Per Amanda Poole of WACH FOX 57, here’s what Johnson said that had the whole room, including Staley, giggling:

“We have THE Dawn Staley. I mean, when you have a coach like that, how can you sweat? If she don’t sweat, we don’t sweat.”

South Carolina women’s basketball created a ‘That’s So Raven’-themed highlight reel for Raven Johnson and it’s so good

This is PERFECTION.

South Carolina women’s basketball sophomore guard Raven Johnson is a walking highlight reel. So, it’s incredibly fitting that the South Carolina social media team made a highlight package for her using the That’s So Raven theme song.

Since her infamous moment during the 2023 Final Four, where she was waved off by Caitlin Clark, Raven Johnson has been in full revenge season mode. The basketball world has noticed, including A’ja Wilson, who says that the moment woke Johnson up.

This season, Johnson is oozing confidence and swagger, blowing by opponents with ease. She’s also part of the reason South Carolina is still undefeated, and the Gamecocks’ social media team created an epically themed highlight reel package for Johnson to celebrate her growth.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3Q0rCsLS74/?igsh=ZXJnMjJ1ZzF5dDVr

A’ja Wilson feels like South Carolina guard Raven Johnson will be a star

Aces center A’ja Wilson believes South Carolina guard Raven Johnson has bright future in basketball.

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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A’ja Wilson thinks Caitlin Clark’s wave-off in the Final Four may have enhanced Raven Johnson’s game

A’ja Wilson thinks Caitlin Clark may have added extra fuel to Raven Johnson’s game.

WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson is a huge fan of South Carolina point guard Raven Johnson’s current game, and she thinks Caitlin Clark may have something to do with that.

A’ja Wilson is one of the best players in the WNBA. The two-time champion and Defensive Player of the Year is a force to be reckoned with. She also has spoken openly about the ways in which South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has sown into her and how Staley was a crucial part of her journey to become the player she is now.

When she recently joined the All The Smoke podcast for an episode, Wilson was asked what collegiate women’s basketball player she thinks has a bright future. Admitting her bias, she picked one of Staley’s current players, Raven Johnson.

Wilson believes that last season’s Final Four matchup, which had many talking about Johson’s infamous wave-off moment with Caitlin Clark, woke her up. ( See the 36:31 mark of the video.)

(Warning: NSFW language.)

Caitlin Clark literally waved off a South Carolina player and left her unguarded during the Final Four

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark quite literally waved off a South Carolina player during the Final Four.

Iowa women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark notched yet another moment of absolutely hilarious disrespect during her team’s Final Four bout with undefeated South Carolina on Friday night.

As the Hawkeyes squared off with the Gamecocks, Clark decided to quite literally wave off freshman guard Raven Johnson and leave her unguarded during a South Carolina offensive possession.

The move worked, as Johnson didn’t attempt the 3-pointer as she stood open beyond the arc and decided to pass the ball off to a teammate.

Clark’s move was so cold that she didn’t even look Johnson’s way as she waved off the freshman standout.

Like, that is just absolutely brutal trolling from Clark in the midst of what is the biggest college game of her career thus far.

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To add insult to injury, Clark also got a bucket over Johnson during the Final Four contest.

Clark is the AP National Player of the Year for a reason. She’s also one of the most savage basketball players on the planet.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

Westlake throttles Paul VI to win Girls GEICO Nationals title

Westlake dominated Paul VI to the tune of a 20-point win en route to its first GEICO Nationals title.

Raven Johnson has been the driving force behind Westlake’s dominance throughout this year’s high school basketball season, but she’s not the only player Westlake has that can explode for a big game on any given night.

That was on full display in the GEICO Nationals championship game Friday, as junior guard Ta’Niya Latson poured in 31 points on nine of 16 shooting to lead Westlake to a 70-50 over Paul VI. Latson played a major role in Westlake reaching the championship game, scoring 26 points in a 64-54 semifinal win over Freemont High School.

Johnson, a South Carolina signee and the reigning Naismith Player of the Year added 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Virginia Tech signee Brianna Turnage spearheaded Westlake’s defensive dominance with 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven rebounds.

RELATED: Raven Johnson named 2021 Naismith Girls HS Basketball Player of the Year

Paul VI entered the title game fresh off an upset over Lake Highland Prep, but fell victim to Westlake’s dominant trio. Westlake strung together a 17-4 second quarter and led 37-22 at halftime. Paul VI failed to cut into Westlake’s lead in the second half and Westlake ultimately cruised to a 20-point win.

Westlake finishes its season a perfect 22-0 after navigating a GEICO Nationals field that combined to go 75-0 during the regular season. Westlake is also the first Georgia high school to ever win the event.