Caitlin Clark, in the 2023 NCAA Tournament semifinal against the South Carolina Gamecocks on March 31, delivered a performance that was historic for all the right reasons. But she ended up grabbing every headline at the time for all the wrong ones. 

Clark dropped 41 points to set a record for the most points in a women’s Final Four semifinal. And she led Iowa to a 77-73 win that ended South Carolina’s 42-game winning streak. Yet, what became one of the biggest talking points from that game was neither the record nor the result. Instead, it was her gesture toward South Carolina’s Raven Johnson in the first quarter of that game.

With roughly 3:50 remaining in that quarter, Johnson, who was a freshman at the time, dribbled the ball to the three-point line. In a typical situation, Caitlin Clark, who appeared to be closing in, would have at least attempted to contest the shot. But she didn’t. She didn’t step up, didn’t even look fully engaged, and simply waved her hand, as if to say she wasn’t concerned, almost daring Johnson to shoot. And Johnson, left completely open by Clark’s decision, had the opportunity to take the shot. But instead, she chose to pass.

Statistically, Raven Johnson had shot just 24.1% from three-point range that season. And with Caitlin Clark’s gesture, it seemed clear she was fully aware of that weakness. As Iowa’s coach explained after the game, “they had a game plan, and they executed it so well.” The strategy was simple: pack the paint against the Gamecocks and dare their guards to shoot from the outside. It was a brilliant strategy, perhaps one that Clark executed to the extreme. The strategy not only secured the win but also took a brutal toll on Johnson.

That two-second wave quickly went viral, and Raven Johnson became the butt of jokes across the internet. Johnson herself admitted to watching that clip over 100 times, reliving the moment again and again. And the psychological impact was heavy. According to her, she even thought about quitting basketball at the time. And as she revealed that the incident is one of the reasons she still dislikes the internet to this day.

That low point, however, was not the end of the road for Raven Johnson. She made a conscious effort to improve, putting in the work on her shooting and raising her three-point percentage from 24% to 37% the following season. And of course, she came back for revenge. 

Johnson faced Caitlin Clark again in the 2024 National Championship game, and after the first quarter, she was assigned to guard her. From that point on, she held Clark to just 5-of-20 shooting for the rest of the game. And even better, South Carolina went on to win 87-75, to complete a perfect 38–0 season.

A commendable comeback, of course. But that wave-off will be difficult to forget.

From Rivalry to Reunion: Raven Johnson Joins Caitlin Clark at Indiana Fever

Raven Johnson entered the 2026 WNBA Draft after completing her collegiate career at South Carolina. She was selected as the No. 10 overall pick by the Indiana Fever, the very team that features her former rival, Caitlin Clark. Clark, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, has now spent two seasons with the franchise and remains the centerpiece of the team.

Johnson entered the draft coming off a career-best senior season that effectively erased the “poor shooter” narrative from 2023. Playing for a South Carolina team that made it to the NCAA Tournament final, she averaged 9.9 points per game, 5.1 assists per game, and 4.0 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 39.8% from three, up from 24.1% in 2023. She also earned Third-Team AP All-American honors and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Following her selection, Johnson expressed genuine excitement about playing alongside her former rival, calling Clark a “phenomenal player.” She also stated that she is eager to be a “sponge” and learn from the veterans on the team. What was once a moment of rivalry has now turned into an opportunity for growth on the same side.