Raven Johnson Keeps Fans Guessing After Title Loss — What’s Next for South Carolina’s Star Guard?
TAMPA, Fla. — The moment was raw, the emotions still heavy. As South Carolina players digested the crushing 82-59 national championship loss to UConn, the spotlight turned to Raven Johnson — and the question everyone was waiting to ask finally came.
“Have you made a decision for next year?”
The senior point guard, who has become a cornerstone of Dawn Staley’s program, smiled gently and paused before offering a cryptic reply:
“I have,” she said, “but I can’t announce it yet.”
Thanks to a medical redshirt from a knee injury that limited her freshman season to just two games, Johnson has the option to return for the 2025-26 season. She had previously said she wouldn’t announce her decision until after the championship game, and with the WNBA draft looming on April 14, her deadline to declare is 5:30 p.m. on April 8.
While Johnson didn’t reveal her decision, she did admit that the blowout loss had impacted her thinking.
“A little bit,” she confessed. “Because I would love to end on a good note.”
Should she return, Johnson would almost certainly retain her starting role. It’s not about minutes — it’s about what comes next. Will she gamble on her draft stock? Leave college behind after a heartbreaking loss despite having two national titles on her résumé? Or could Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities elsewhere influence a surprise transfer move?
The outcome won’t drastically alter the foundation of the team, but it will define who leads the Gamecocks from the point. If she leaves, rising sophomore Maddy McDaniel is the likely successor. McDaniel, a promising guard, will play regardless, but starter minutes are a different game.
Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao have wrapped up their college careers, leaving major gaps in the backcourt. That opens up opportunities for rising stars like MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson, both of whom have the skills to shoot from deep, attack inside, and run the point if needed.
Meanwhile, in the frontcourt, Sania Feagin is out of eligibility after a breakout year as a starter. But Chloe Kitts is returning, and highly-touted freshman Joyce Edwards looks poised to step into a leading role.
“I know what it feels like to lose, and I don’t want to be here again,” Edwards said after the UConn loss. “I showed my resilience [in the Final Four], and I pushed through. That game showed it.”
Ashlyn Watkins, recovering from a knee injury, is expected to challenge Edwards for a starting post spot. Sakima Walker, like Johnson, has one more year available and is expected to return. Maryam Dauda, who missed a year at Arkansas due to injury, has already confirmed she’ll be back in Columbia.
Another intriguing name is Adhel Tac, who joined South Carolina midseason and could make a significant impact next year after recovering from multiple high school injuries.
To strengthen the roster, Coach Dawn Staley has already secured two new recruits — forward Ayla McDowell and guard Agot Makeer — and is expected to be active in the transfer portal. She’ll also have to fill a spot on her bench, as assistant coach Winston Gandy has accepted the head coaching job at Grand Canyon.
As eyes turn toward the offseason, all of South Carolina — and much of women’s college basketball — waits on Raven Johnson’s decision. Will she chase one more title run or begin a new chapter in the pros? One thing’s clear: her answer could shape the next phase of Gamecock basketball.
