A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP and champion, recently joined Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s podcast series “All the Smoke” on Showtime Basketball. Wilson is a fan of South Carolina point guard Raven Johnson and thinks Caitlin Clark may be involved with her.
During a news conference held after a game, Raven Johnson opened up about the humiliations she endured the previous season. Hopes were high when she reached her professional peak, and her return attitude was evident as her fire of performances this year is highly advocated by the Aces’ star
A’ja Wilson’s take on South Carolina star
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Wilson talked about collegiate athletes that she envisions moving from college to the league, the NIL, and the WNBA. As a prospective talent with a promising future, she selected guard Raven Johnson of South Carolina. Wilson acknowledges her prejudice, but she thinks Johnson’s play right now and the treatment she suffered at the hands of Caitlin Clark in the Final Four the previous year helped her wake up.
A sophomore at South Carolina, Johnson has previously participated in the Final Four, was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2023, and won the Naismith Prep Player of the Year award. Wilson believes that Raven Johnson’s experience in the Final Four and her recognition as the Naismith Prep player of the year demonstrate her exceptional skills and potential for success in the WNBA.
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A’ja wrote on X, “Getting waved off in the final four woke Raven up and made her so greedy, and I truly love the work she put in,” which clearly indicates the snub by Clark and the revenge spree taken by Raven. Even ESPN acknowledged the ‘roaring return’ by posting on their Instagram handle: “Raven Johnson is shooting over 40% from three this season.”
Additionally, Wilson is intrigued by Johnson’s resilience and ability to overcome adversity, as evidenced by the treatment she endured during the previous year’s Final Four. Wilson is excited to see how Johnson will continue to grow and succeed in her basketball career.
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Viral beef between Caitlin Clark and Raven Johnson
Johnson, a player from South Carolina, was dribbling behind the 3-point line when Clark waved her off during the Gamecocks’ national semifinal defeat to the Hawkeyes. Johnson hit 24.1% from beyond the arc in her rookie season, so Clark appeared to be implying with the gesture that it wasn’t worth the bother to guard her.
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In anticipation of her second season with the Gamecocks, Johnson utilized the viral moment to bolster her confidence. In response to all the attention she got after the Final Four of the previous season, the USC point guard has returned and declared that this season is her revenge tour.