In 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes met the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four. Apart from winning 77-73, Caitlin Clark scored 41 points all by herself, leaving Raven Johnson with a bitter taste with 13 points. For all intents and purposes, the Hawkeyes and Gamecocks matchup in the 2024 title game was a grudge match. One that Johnson made clear on the podium by declaring, “The revenge tour is over.” If only she dropped the mic after that one, nonetheless, everyone’s loving it. Including Mark Jackson and his son, Bluu.

Referring to the moment Caitlin Clark, in Jackson’s words, “exposed Raven Johnson’s weakness,” a year ago, he hyped Johnson for working hard and overcoming her one flaw. The Gamecocks won the 2024 title 87-75. Granted, she only made 3 points to Clark’s 30, but Johnson was blown away by her defensive skills. “She put on an absolute clinic yesterday on how to defend an all-time great basketball player.” 

Last year, Johnson’s shooting left a little to be desired. During their Final Four clash, Clark refused to guard her from the three-point arc and made a gesture that roughly translated to her daring to make that shot. That was a confidence-destroyer by most accounts. For Johnson, it was motivation.

She called it the “best thing” to happen to her which impressed Mark Jackson. He was seeing the mentality of a pro-baller in Johnson who claimed she dreamt of the 2023 humiliation and hit the gym to turned her weakness in shooting into an advantage to the team.

Mark Jackson declares Raven Jackson an inspiration

Clark is a scoring machine, undeniably, as the one who holds the NCAA record for the same. With a huge chip on her shoulder, Raven Johnson knew she didn’t just have to score, she also had to keep Clark from scoring. She watched Clark’s tapes and studied her moves to develop her own game.

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Iowa started with a 20-point lead off her back till Johnson stepped up. According to what Jackson saw, “Caitlin Clark was basically shut down rest of the way,” speaking of Iowa’s downturn in the second half. Johnson was the primary guard on Clark’s tail, holding her at only 12 more points. Moreover, Johnson tallied two blocks and four steals.

It was that clean left-hand layoff off Clark’s pocket that Jackson loved. It also showed Johnson worked on her left-hand shooting. Jackson says many athletes can draw inspiration from this. “Take some inspiration from Raven Johnson, work on your weaknesses so that when the time comes and opportunity presents itself again you’re locked and loaded.” Can’t argue when the precedent is right there, wearing #25 in South Carolina’s jersey.

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