Raven Johnson stood out as a bright spot for the Indiana Fever despite the team's loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
The rookie guard delivered her best game of the season in the 90-88 defeat on Thursday. She tied Caitlin Clark for the team high with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Johnson knocked down two three-pointers, along with five rebounds and two assists.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White showed more trust in the 2026 No. 10 pick by giving her 21 minutes of playing time.
The team highlighted Johnson's performance by posting a graphic on Instagram. The Fever included her stats and named her their stat leader of the game.
"a career-high night for Raven Johnson against the Valkyries 👏" the team wrote.
Johnson entered the WNBA after she had a successful collegiate career with the South Carolina Gamecocks. She won the national championship with the program twice and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.
Thursday's performance could lead to even more playing time for the 5-foot-8 guard. She averaged only 12.5 minutes over the first six matchups, but her breakout game may push her higher in the pecking order off the bench.
It remains to be seen if Johnson will play a more prominent role starting on Saturday versus the Portland Fire. However, her big game against the Valkyries has likely given her a lot of confidence and momentum.
The 23-year-old proved that she can contribute significantly in the scoring column, along with her production on both ends of the floor.
