COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Raven Johnson has once again earned national recognition, securing a spot on the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist for the third consecutive season, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Johnson has been the engine of the Gamecocks’ offense for three years, leading the program to a stunning 109-5 record that includes three NCAA Final Four appearances, back-to-back national championship game berths, and an undefeated 2024 national title season. During her tenure, South Carolina has also dominated the SEC, claiming both the regular-season and tournament championships in each of her three seasons while dropping just one conference game in that span.
Statistically, Johnson has cemented herself among the program’s greats. Her 410 career assists currently rank 10th in school history, while her 166 assists in SEC play place her fifth all-time. She also owns three of the top 10 single-season assist-to-turnover ratios in Gamecock history, highlighted by her 3.09 mark in 2023-24, which ranks second overall. Last season, her 3.33 ratio in SEC play set a new school record, surpassing the previous mark held by former WNBA guard Tyasha Harris.
The Atlanta native delivered her best campaign yet in 2023-24, averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three-point range. Her consistency and leadership earned her a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, and she followed that up the next season with a selection to the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Johnson will continue to guide the No. 2-ranked Gamecocks as they prepare for their second exhibition game on Thursday, Oct. 30, against No. 11 North Carolina at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Fans can stay updated on the team’s progress by visiting GamecocksOnline.com and following @GamecockWBB on social media.
2025-26 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist
- Zoe Brooks, NC State
- Janelle Brown, Fairfield
- Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
- Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
- MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
- Rori Harmon, Texas
- Jordan Harrison, West Virginia
- Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
- Kymora Johnson, Virginia
- Raven Johnson, South Carolina
- Reniya Kelly, North Carolina
- Taina Mair, Duke
- Olivia Miles, TCU
- Tonie Morgan, Kentucky
- S’Mya Nichols, Kansas
- Britt Prince, Nebraska
- Ny’Ceara Pryor, Texas A&M
- Kiki Rice, UCLA
- Rachel Rose, Clemson
- Jada Williams, Iowa State
