That moment refuses to fade, lingering like a ghost from the past. When the Indiana Fever selected Raven Johnson with the No. 10 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the spotlight should’ve been on what she brings to the table. Instead, the conversation keeps circling back to her tainted history with Caitlin Clark.

But now, Johnson has finally addressed it.

Speaking on Wednesday, the rookie guard was asked whether she and Clark spoke about the infamous 2023 Final Four moment – the play where Clark waved her off at the three-point line – now that they are teammates.

“No, we haven’t,” she said. “I think that’s in the past, honestly. We’re teammates now, and we have one goal, that’s to win a championship. I’m coming in. I want to win a championship too, I’m pretty sure that’s her main goal, too. So whatever I can do to help win a championship, that’s the goal.”

It’s a firm stance, and one that reflects just how much has changed since that night. But let’s go back to 2023 for a moment.

In one of the most anticipated games at that time, the South Carolina Gamecocks locked horns with the Iowa Hawkeyes in a blockbuster national semifinal. In that game, Caitlin Clark of the Hawkeyes was given the task of guarding Raven Johnson of the Gamecocks. However, Clark waved Johnson off, choosing to leave the young guard wide open.

Seems like a madman’s decision to leave a key rival wide open, right? But Clark had her reasons.

During the 2022-23 NCAA season, Johnson just shot 24.1% from beyond the arc, and Clark was willing to take that gamble. So instead of closing out, she stayed back and dared Johnson to shoot, and that was enough to mess with Johnson’s mind, who then began hesitating and refused to take a shot even while being open.

On the other end, Caitlin Clark put together a historic performance by dropping 41 points along with eight assists and six rebounds to lead Iowa to the national championship game.

Even though Johnson finished with 13 points by going 3-of-6 from deep, she became the focal point of intense online backlash that impacted her confidence and mental space in the months that followed.

However, she never blamed Clark for any of it.

“For the record, I don’t blame Caitlin for any of it. It’s not her fault,” the Fever rookie revealed in The Players’ Tribune. “Damn near all is fair when we’re out there on the floor. She’s a dawg.”

Yet three years later, that same moment is being revisited for an entirely different reason because these two players are no longer rivals, but teammates.

And while Johnson has clearly moved on, not everyone else has.

Raven Johnson’s Take on Caitlin Clark Moment Has Fans Talking

As her comments went viral, fans flooded social media with their opinions.

“It’s not in the past, and I’m tired of this nice shit. She should’ve never been drafted there,” one fan wrote. While another added, “Rooting for Raven and Raven only.”

Ever since Johnson was drafted by the Indiana Fever, a section of fans has struggled to accept her pairing with Clark. Why? Because they are still holding on to what happened years ago. But these reactions don’t really understand what she can actually bring to the table.

As a 5-foot-8 guard out of Atlanta, she has won two national championships over five seasons at South Carolina. By the time her college career came to an end, Johnson evolved into a complete guard and averaged 9.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting an efficient 48.6% from the field and nearly 40% from beyond the arc. Add to that her SEC Defensive Player of the Year honor and AP All-American Third Team selection, and it’s clear why the Fever saw value in her.

But that’s not it!

Johnson’s defensive presence and playmaking ability give the Fever another guard who can handle pressure and create opportunities. So instead of running everything through Caitlin Clark, Johnson can be the player who complements the Fever star and strengthens the backcourt on both ends of the floor.

And that’s exactly why many believe this pairing could end up working far better than some expect. So, fans who don’t want to see them on the same team don’t have the dominant sentiment anymore.

In fact, a growing section of fans is more frustrated with how often that moment keeps getting brought back into the spotlight, especially now that both players are focused on the next chapter of their careers.

One fan added, “This team could be 40-0 and stupid media would still be asking this shit.” Whereas another wrote, “‘In the past’ is a GROSS understatement. That shit was almost 3yrs ago! No one comes to the pros talking about a play that happened years ago.”

When Raven Johnson was drafted, fans flooded the internet with frustration over the pick. But inside the locker room, the reality looks very different.

Because the same person who was once waved off by Caitlin Clark is now learning directly from her.

Johnson recently stepped into her first training camp with the franchise, so adjusting to a new system, a faster pace, and a playbook being thrown at her all at once could’ve been overwhelming, but not for her, as Clark has been all in for helping the young star.

“It’s fun. I’m learning from the vets here. They definitely make sure I get the plays. Yesterday they were just throwing plays at me,” she said. “Caitlin Clark, she was helping me during all the hard times … I was like, ‘What do I do here, or like, where should I cut?’ … I asked her probably like a thousand questions yesterday.”

And just like that, the narrative flips.

The player who has been painted as her biggest rival is now the one helping her understand spacing, movement, and how to operate within the Fever’s system. Because they understand they need to build together to win.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, one fan probably summed it up best. They didn’t care about any narratives or the past as they wrote, “Good job, stay focused 🙏🏽🏀🏀🏀.” Because that’s what really matters.

After signing Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham to more lucrative contracts and deals under the new CBA, the Indiana Fever is a serious threat in the WNBA. And that’s where the pairing of Raven Johnson and Caitlin Clark becomes even more important.

On paper, this team has everything – elite scoring, defensive versatility, and a backcourt that can both create and disrupt. But none of it matters without chemistry. That’s the only piece that can truly elevate them from a strong roster to a championship-caliber team. Which is why it’s important for this team to block out the noise and focus on what’s ahead.

Because that next chapter is right around the corner, with their season opener set for May 9 against the Dallas Wings.