For a rookie like Raven Johnson, a pro transition isn’t always marked by sunshine and rainbows. Of course, it marks a major landmark in her hoops career, but the nemesis that often comes with it doesn’t spare the players. While Johnson is currently amid that transition, the Indiana Fever guard has shared her two cents on one ritual of WNBA that she despises, and it’s a bit far from the hardwood.

Speaking recently during an interview, Johnson was asked about her way to cope with the pro circuit. In reply, she initially leaned towards the tough physicality of the league, then expressed her resentment of the ice tub recovery, which is quite prevalent in the WNBA but is quite different from her collegiate days in South Carolina. “Mentally it’s hard, I mean, honestly, just to fight with the fatigue,” Johnson said.

“Just trust your teammates, trust what the coaches have for you, and believe in yourself, but physically my body’s beat up. The staff they have here are taking good care of me and make sure I get an ice tub which I totally hate. I never got an ice tub like that till I got here,” she added. “I get in the ice tub literally every day. And it’s crazy, but getting treatment and going pros things, and I was like,”This is what pros do? They get in the ice tub every day.” They’ve been there for like 10-15 mins. In college, I would never.”

 The ice tub recovery has been kind of a cornerstone in basketball for quite a while now. It isn’t just another fancy recovery technique; it has significant scientific significance, and basketball trainers often use it for players after a tiring 40 minutes of play. The ice tub treatment helps the body cool down, reduce inflammation, and accelerate recovery after games.

Veteran players like LeBron James have embraced this ice tub recovery and reportedly use it at home as well. So, with such a proven method, it’s only appropriate that most WNBA teams use it as well. On paper, it can be even more beneficial for a rookie like Raven Johnson, who is making her first start in the league.

Now it needs to be understood that Johnson might find it immensely contrasting to her recovery after her collegiate games with South Carolina, but those sharp differences also lie in the dynamics of the games between the two circuits. It’s no surprise that physicality and speed often increase as players transition from the collegiate circuit to the W.

We’ve seen players like Caitlin Clark experience that in her rookie season in 2024, and, for starters, it should be as challenging for Johnon as well. She mentioned fatigue in her assessment as well.

Thus, with such physicality and speed, along with a hectic schedule against top teams and defenders every week, it’s only natural that the body will tire. The ice tub recovery at least gives a bit of cushion amid this tiring schedule. On similar lines, Johnson must get the hang of this ice tub recovery process in her schedule after the pro transition.

But while Raven Johnson makes her early adjustments in the pro circuit, one thing hasn’t changed in her game, though: the top-tier intensity on the court and the two-way output on either side of the court.

Raven Johnson’s pro career so far hasn’t been just about ice tub resentment, but success as well

When Johnson was picked by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft, there were a lot of doubts about what the franchise would do with such a guard-heavy roster. And the first two preseason games for the team against the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings might just reinforce that Johnson will be a defensive bulldozer on the perimeter, as well as a ball handler at times.

Now, it’s a role that Johnson used to do in her South Carolina days as well. But the way she has transcended the same impact for the Indiana Fever at the pro level is commendable. In the preseason opener against Liberty, Johnson contributed with 6 points, 8 assists, and 2 blocks in a 101-99 win. And subsequently, she demonstrated her prowess against the Wings, recording 3 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

After the second preseason game, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White also rallied behind her to praise her for the energy and the all-around performance, despite a 95-80 loss to the Wings.

“I love her energy,” White said. “The thing I love about Raven is like there was one possession in front of our bench where she turned it over. She didn’t sit out there and sulk. She got that thing back, like she’s going to bring energy. She’s going to be a spark off the bench and it’s going to be eb and flow throughout the season as it does with a lot of rookies, but we know she’s going to bring it on the defensive end. I mean, five steals, five assists, really good stuff.”

All in all, Raven Johnson has blended quite well with the Indiana Fever from a technical standpoint. The only thing she will have to make sure of is to stay wary of injuries, which again points to a good recovery after games, including taking up ice tub sessions. A long haul of games is coming her way in the coming week and will tip off with the Dallas Wings game on May 9.