The recent 17-point win over the USC Trojans was the lowest margin of victory so far for the Gamecocks, but it was the sweetest one, as it came against the rivals. HC Dawn Staley praised every player who contributed to the game and singled out Raven Johnson for her overall impact.
During the post-game interview, Staley clapped back at Raven Johnson’s haters, calling them ignorant, and predicted that the guard deserves to be a first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. Fans reacted to the HC’s analysis.
Fans React To Dawn Staley’s Prediction About Raven Johnson’s WNBA Draft
The South Carolina Gamecocks were champions in the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament and runners-up in the 2025 tournament. On the side, a few names that stood out in the impressive run were Chloe Kitts and Raven Johnson.
Against the USC Trojans, the 5-feet-8 guard did everything right to help them clinch the victory. Yet, her HC believed that she didn’t get the credit she deserved and thrashed the critics in the recent press conference. Staley said, “If WNBA teams want to have the amount of success we had with her in the lineup, they will take Raven in the first round.”
WNBA fans thought otherwise and mentioned that ‘Raven is not a first-rounder,’ yet agreed with some points made by the 55-year-old coach.
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
One fan contradicted the prediction and wrote, “Not gonna happen.”
A fan wrote, “I don’t see how she goes first round.”
One fan simply laughed at the idea and commented, “LOL.”
Another fan said, “Can’t see her being an elite guard in the W. Sorry, still luv yall down tho.”
One fan cleared his views and wrote, “But Raven is not a 1st round caliber guard.”
Another fan highlighted her scoring problem and wrote, “The thing is Raven can’t shoot. She’s a great player tho.”
While fans might not agree with Staley’s prediction about her guard being the first rounder in the 26 WNBA draft, she also made a firm statement being the ‘Real SC’ after the win, which has some strong backing.
Dawn Staley Calls The Gamecocks ‘Real SC’
There had been many iconic rivalries within the NCAA, but very few came close to the ‘South Carolina’ rivalry with both the USC and the Gamecocks having very potent rosters. Over the years, USC was one of the dominant forces in the region. Even Staley admitted how losing the first two rivalry games still haunts her.
But in recent years, even with Juju Watkins’ heroics, the Gamecocks maintained steady control over the USC team. After a 22-33 record against the University of South Carolina, the Gamecocks currently have a massive 15-0 run against them.
Proud HC said, “I would say we got the title until we play them again next year… In Greenville, we’re gonna wear that title with pride. So we are, yes, the real SC.”
The Gamecocks are leading the SEC with a 4-0 record, and this will be the fourth season in a row if they finish at the top of the standings. As for their rivals, the Trojans are 2-1 in the 2025-26 season. They’ll play again next season at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville. However, until then, Staley has announced, ‘they are the real SC.’