South Carolina women's basketball: Is Raven Johnson set up for another Revenge Tour?

In 2024, Raven Johnson had her Revenge Tour. Last season’s Repeat Tour wasn’t as successful. So Johnson turned down the WNBA to come back for one more season, hoping to bounce back next season.

Call it the Redeem Tour or the Rebound Tour or whatever you like (Johnson will probably come up with a name for it), but there are reasons to believe Johnson will have a big season.

Johnson got off to a slow start to the 2024-25 season. She shot 0-8 in the season opener against Michigan, and she struggled with her shot for most of November. In those eight games, Johnson shot just 11-51 (21.6%), and started the season 0-13 from three. 

Johnson broke out of that slump in December. She had some big games over the course of the season and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team, but she never regained her form from the season before.

In 2023-24, Johnson averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.1 steals. She shot 44.3% overall and 35.0% from three. Last season, it dropped to 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals. She shot just 35.0 % and 29.5% from three.

There were a few reasons for the slide. First, that November slump covered about a fifth of the season, so it dragged Johnson’s stats down for the entire year.

Second, Johnson played three fewer minutes per game. But even if you control for the decreased playing time, the numbers were all down. The decreased playing time was partly because Johnson was less effective and partly because Dawn Staley had to spread playing time around for Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Bree Hall, and Tessa Johnson.

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Third, without Kamilla Cardoso (and Ashlyn Watkins for half the season) in the middle, South Carolina’s offense was less “Raven-friendly” than it was the year before. The pace of play was slower, dropping nearly three possessions per game, and it was less point guard dominant. The assist percentage declined from 55.9% to 54.1%. There were more pick-and-rolls, especially involving Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards, and Sania Feagin in the high post, that took the ball out of Johnson’s hands.

That should change next season.

Paopao, Hall, and Feagin are off to the WNBA, and Fulwiley transferred to LSU. South Carolina added Ta’Niya Latson, who led the country in scoring last season, and 6-6 Madina Okot as transfers, plus Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, two athletic wings, as freshmen.

The Gamecocks are optimistic that Watkins will recover from her torn ACL in time for the season. Whether she is ready or not, the roster looks more like it did in 2024. 

That means a faster pace and more transition opportunities. Johnson running the offense. Bigs in the low post waiting for passes. 

Johnson also gets to play with her favorite running mate again. Johnson and Latson were high school teammates at Westlake High in Atlanta and won a national championship together. They have remained best friends ever since, and they are thrilled to play together again.

“I’m trying to get her here!” Johnson told me after Latson entered the portal, showing the text messages on her phone.

In high school, they blitzed opponents with fast break baskets. Latson would sprint out after every shot, and Johnspn would throw touchdown passes all game. It won’t be that easy now, of course, but there is a comfort level between the two that should pay off. 

They even timed it so their announcements about next season came out together.

“I would love to end on a good note,” Johnson said following the title game loss. Things are lining up for that to happen.

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