point guard Raven Johnson showed exactly why she’s considered the heartbeat of the No. 3 team in the country — even while battling illness.
In South Carolina’s 76-57 road win over on Feb. 19 at , Johnson was visibly limited, playing just 19 minutes and finishing with two points. But the box score didn’t tell the full story.
Leadership Over Numbers
Coming into the matchup, Johnson averaged 10.2 points and nearly 29 minutes per game. Against Alabama, however, her role shifted from statistical contributor to emotional stabilizer.
Head coach revealed after the game that her star guard was under the weather.
“Raven was sick today. We didn’t know if she was going to play, but she braved through and played like the champion that she is,” Staley told SEC Network following the win.
Johnson’s minutes reflected that uncertainty. She logged just 10 minutes in the first half as the Gamecocks built a 10-point lead. In the third quarter, she played only four minutes, during which Alabama closed the gap with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to seven — a stretch that highlighted just how much South Carolina relies on her floor presence and defensive command.
Despite not having her usual burst, Johnson opened the fourth quarter and delivered a critical moment — a steal that she converted into a layup to extend the lead to 68-54. It was vintage “Raven,” a flash of her defensive instincts and transition control, even while clearly not at full strength.
She exited at the 5:39 mark, briefly heading to the locker room with just over five minutes left before returning to the bench. She did not re-enter the game.
“Still Her Viper Self”
Staley emphasized that Johnson’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet, especially on a night like this.
“She’s probably got a little flu, little bug that’s going around,” Staley said. “Raven is still her viper self, she always wants to play. Not the statistical game that she usually has but her presence alone gives us a shot of winning.”
That presence — defensive intensity, leadership, tempo control — remains invaluable for a team chasing postseason positioning in the SEC.
Staley even went as far as to say:
“A sick Raven Johnson is still better than most point guards when they are healthy, so I felt comfort knowing that she was just actually going to try to go so kudos to Ray.”
That statement underscores Johnson’s importance to a team now sitting at 26-2 overall and 12-1 in conference play.
Looking Ahead
With a ranked showdown against looming on Feb. 22, Staley was asked whether Johnson would be available.
Her answer was simple and confident — Johnson will be ready.
If Wednesday’s performance proved anything, it’s that even at less than 100 percent, Raven Johnson remains a difference-maker. And if she returns to full strength against Ole Miss, South Carolina’s backcourt could be back to full throttle at just the right time.
