The Indiana Fever made a statement win in the preseason, with the bench and starters combining to defeat the Liberty in New York. While Caitlin Clark’s return was the headline of the game, Raven Johnson’s debut as a Fever player also stole the limelight.
There were ‘light note’ discussions about a possible rift between the two guards, considering their past interactions in the NCAA competition. But Candace Parker gave her honest opinion on how Clark’s actions shaped Johnson’s WNBA surge.
Until now, the former South Carolina star was on the receiving end of CC’s offense and dealt with it well; she now gets a first-hand experience playing alongside the 2024 megastar rookie, and her three-pointer just gets the ‘real emotions’ out of Johnson.
Caitlin Clark’s Three-Pointer Stuns Raven Johnson
The Indiana Fever is looking at the 2026 rookie as backup for the 2024 Rookie of the Year winner, and she did a wonderful job in the preseason game. As much as the confidence in the tenth overall pick is growing, the player is also finding it ‘at ease’ with her new team.
During a practice session, Johnson saw Clark hitting a three-pointer off the dribble, and the excited star went on the court to give the two-time All-Star a high-five and huge shout-out. Then, looking at the camera, she said, “The GOAT right there.”
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Interestingly, Johnson was part of LeBron James’ celebratory silence after the shot. The former Iowa star was focusing on the practice session as she did her usual high-five with her rookie and went back to her defensive duties.
Although Clark’s pause while praising her rookie during a press conference went viral, the third-year rookie said nice things about Johnson and is ready to give her more responsibilities, too.
Caitlin Clark Gives Her Opinion On Rookie Raven Johnson
Everyone was eager to know more about Fever rookies after the team made a huge push in the free agency, building a contender team. Ahead of the preseason game, Clark opened up on her views.
“I think just helping (the rookies) as much as I can—especially Raven, who’s going to be a primary ball handler and trying to conduct the offense—that’s a big responsibility,” Clark said. “I think it’s about empowering her to use her voice and also do what she does really well.”
Caitlin Clark on Raven Johnson and the Fever rookies (complete with a pause) pic.twitter.com/gKEfXFAH8f
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) April 25, 2026
“She’s a great defender, has long arms, and gets her hands all over the ball. For Raven, she asks a lot of questions, and that can be intimidating, too. But she’s done a really great job of that. I’m really proud of her,” Clark added.
While Johnson revealed how Caitlin Clark’s viral wave-off moment came full circle, playing alongside the 24-year-old adds another dimension to their relationship, and fans are already loving it.