By Mecca Pryor ·Updated April 14, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Last night, Raven Johnson went 10th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft with Indiana Fever selecting her to join their new roster. A point guard since 2021, she has been a steady force for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was recently honored as SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Yesterday, she stepped into the biggest night of her career, but true to form, she met the moment with unwavering composure.
“I’m feeling really grateful more than anything,” Johnson tells ESSENCE. “It’s a full-circle moment for me. All the hard work, the ups and downs, everything led here.”
But, that full circle didn’t come easy. Johnson entered South Carolina as a top recruit, only to see her freshman season cut short by a knee injury just two games in. While her team went on to win the 2022 NCAA championship, she watched from the sidelines—learning, absorbing, and quietly preparing for her return. When she returned the following season, she carved out her place not as the loudest scorer, but as something arguably more valuable: a floor general. By her junior year, Johnson had fully stepped into that role, helping lead South Carolina to an undefeated championship run in 2024.
Still, on draft night, it wasn’t just about accolades. It was about the atmosphere. “Just being in the room with so many talented women who’ve all put in the work to get here,” she says. “It’s bigger than basketball, it’s a celebration of our journeys.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Raven Johnson (L) of South Carolina poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 10th pick in the first round by the Indiana Fever during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images) Before the cameras, the cheers, and the commissioner’s call, Johnson grounded herself in ritual. Her pre-event routine was less about spectacle and more about intention. “There’s definitely music playing. I need that,” she says. “Something that keeps me calm but locked in: R&B, a little gospel, some rap. The vibe is peaceful and energetic, but focused.”
That balance between calm and intensity has become her signature, showing up just as much in her presence as it does in her performance. It’s in the way she locks in defensively and carries herself under pressure, but also in how she prepares for moments like this. “It helps me slow everything down,” she says. “Moments like this can feel big, but my routine reminds me to stay present.”
That same energy carried into her draft-night look. Johnson opted for a warm, glowing glam. Gold tones swept across her lids, paired with a natural lash and a soft, side-parted bombshell blowout. For fashion, she teamed up with Coach, stepping out in a blazer- decoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/04/20260413_Coach_WNBA_777-scaled.jpg" alt="How 10th Overall Pick Raven Johnson Got Ready For The WNBA Draft" width="400" height="533" />
TOPICS: black women in sports Raven Johnson WNBA draft
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