Home Customer Service Stay Connected Read today’s Edition The State’s Best News Sports Entertainment & Living Opinion Obituaries Video Featured Reality Check Uniquely GoGamecocks The State’s Best Shopping/Reviews Deals & Offers Press Releases Sponsored Content Classifieds Place an Ad – Celebrations Search Jobs Search Legal Notices Advertising $1.99 FOR 6 MONTHS SUBSCRIBE USC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Raven Johnson announces decision on her South Carolina future By Michael Sauls Updated April 8, 2025 2:43 PM South Carolina’s Raven Johnson Tracy Glantz tglantz@thestate.com Raven Johnson stood center court at Colonial Life Arena in March, surrounded by loved ones for South Carolina’s Senior Day celebration. “One more year!” chants rang throughout the arena. South Carolina fans, and Dawn Staley too, had that request fulfilled on Tuesday. The veteran point guard announced via social media Tuesday her intentions to use her final year of eligibility and return to South Carolina for the 2025-26 season. Her announcement came just minutes after Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson, her high school teammate and the nation’s leading scorer last year, announced her own commitment to South Carolina. Johnson celebrated Latson’s decision on social media by saying, “LET’S RUN IT BACK TWIN!!!! @NiyaLatson” and “Always got my twin back!!! #REUNITED” A member of the 2021 recruiting class, Johnson will be a redshirt senior and has been at South Carolina for four seasons already. She earned an extra year of eligibility after she missed all but two games of her freshman year with an injury. Johnson’s returns means the veteran will be anchor a back-court that is losing Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall. On top of the addition of Latson, South Carolina is set to return MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson and Maddy McDaniel at guard next year. The program is adding wings Ayla McDowell (signed) and Agot Makeer (committed) from the 2025 recruiting class. “Obviously, Raven makes us a better basketball team,” Staley said after USC’s regular season finale March 2. “Raven is a winner. She comes back, it increases our chances of winning a lot more basketball games.” Johnson has played 114 games and started 77 as a Gamecock. She’s been a cornerstone of one of the most successful recruiting classes in the program’s history. She has earned All-SEC honors three times as a Gamecocks. She was an All-SEC Freshman Team member in 2023, made the All-SEC Second Team in 2024 and was named to the All-SEC Defensive Team this season. Her best year was the 2023-24 national championship season when she averaged 8 points, 4.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds. In 2024-25, Johnson averaged 4.9 points, 2.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
