A couple of years ago, it would have been almost impossible to envision Caitlin Clark and Raven Johnson as teammates. They were stark rivals on the college basketball scene and had several intense and headline-grabbing moments against each other. Well, as they say, never say never. With the Indiana Fever selecting Johnson in the 2026 WNBA Draft, she will now join Caitlin Clark, who is currently the focal point of the team.

Johnson entered the draft coming off a career-best senior season at South Carolina. And with the level of performance she displayed, the Indiana Fever clearly saw her as a fitting addition to their team. Speaking on her envisioned role, Fever GM and COO Amber Cox said the following: “I think, you know, Raven. While she’s played primarily point guard, she has the ability to transition and become a really great combo guard.” This simply means the expectation is for her to serve as a versatile option, relieving Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell of ball-handling duties while providing elite perimeter defense.

As Cox further highlighted, Johnson has the wingspan advantage to defend multiple positions on the court. And for her, “having a rookie coming in for several years along with Caitlin Clark and Kelsey makes the team really, really tough and provides so much depth, especially on the defensive end of the court.”

Caitlin Clark missed most of last season due to injury. She appeared in only 13 of 41 regular-season games, missing 29 due to injuries, and sat out the entire postseason. As a result, most of the offensive burden fell on Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. And they helped carry the team to a Commissioner’s Cup title and to the WNBA Semifinals. With Caitlin Clark now back and ready, alongside the rest of the core, including Mitchell, Boston, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, and now with the addition of Johnson, the team now seems to have what it takes to go a step further this season.

Although they have also lost notable players like Brianna Turner and Natasha Howard from last season’s squad, they appear to have reinforced well. They brought in veteran forward Monique Billings in free agency, among other additions. And alongside Johnson, they also selected Justine Pissott with the 25th pick and Jessica Timmons with the 40th pick.

Raven Johnson, on the other hand, was the 10th overall pick, the highest selection the Fever had. According to Cox, she was “the best available” and a great fit for what the team is building. Her performance in training camp will be the first test of that high praise.

Breaking Down the Indiana Fever’s 2026 Draft Class

The Indiana Fever’s 2026 WNBA Draft picks might not have been any of the lottery picks. Based on their pre-draft performances, they definitely bring depth into a roster already built around elite talents like Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston. 

As the 10th overall pick, two-time national champion Raven Johnson brings a well-rounded game from South Carolina. Her senior year showcased her versatility, where she not only averaged nearly 10 points and 5 assists but also proved her defensive prowess, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors while shooting an efficient 39.8% from deep.

Justine Pissott, who was the Fever’s second pick, is a 6-foot-4 guard-forward. And like Johnson, she also put together a strong senior campaign. She averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. And she comes with quite an impressive three-point shooting, with 42.2 percent from deep on high volume.

Jessica Timmons, who came in with the No. 40 pick, is a scoring guard. She is also coming off a breakout final season with Alabama, after a medical redshirt the previous year. She returned averaging 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 39.4 percent from three-point range. Her performances also earned her Second-Team All-SEC honors.

Although none of these three are expected to be starters on this Indiana team, they’ll definitely be a useful addition. And teaming up with a player like Caitlin Clark is something each of them will definitely enjoy. Johnson, despite their past rivalry, even described her as a phenomenal player. And who knows, maybe one of them, perhaps Raven Johnson, might break into the starting lineup.