ATLANTA — South Carolina fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Starting point guard Raven Johnson gave Gamecock Nation a scare when she fell hard on a layup attempt late in the second quarter of the Oct. 30 exhibition game against North Carolina. Johnson grabbed her back as she slowly got up and walked to the locker room with trainers and head coach Dawn Staley by her side.
Fortunately, the news afterward was positive. Staley confirmed that Johnson is “fine” following the fall.
Johnson didn’t initially return to warm up with the team after halftime, but she rejoined the lineup in the third quarter and went on to play 25 minutes in South Carolina’s 91–82 win over the Tar Heels. She finished with five points, three assists, a rebound, and a steal.
Staley downplayed the severity of the incident after the game, saying:
“Yeah, we’ll see what she feels like tomorrow, probably going to hurt a little bit, a little sore, but Raven is tough. If Raven can run around, she’s going to play. If she can practice, she’s going to play — a tough one.”
Johnson, now in her fifth season at South Carolina, has endured adversity before. Her freshman campaign was cut short after just two games due to a torn ACL.
After the foul that caused the fall, Tessa Johnson came off the bench to take the free throws while Raven was evaluated. Though shaken, Raven returned to lead the offense in the second half, showing the same toughness and composure that have made her one of Staley’s most trusted leaders.
Her brief absence was a reminder of her importance to a Gamecocks team eyeing another championship run — and a testament to the resilience that defines both her and the South Carolina program.
