Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson spent her college career at South Carolina under Dawn Staley, where she learned lessons that have stayed with her beyond her time with the Gamecocks. Johnson left Columbia with two national championships and plenty of memories, but it was Staley’s emphasis on discipline and consistency that made perhaps the biggest impression.

“Honestly, it’s the best. She gets this pro mindset, or she always say, ‘Have pro habits.’ That’s the biggest thing with her – having pro habits – and I think I carry that with me to this day, not just on the court but off the court,” Johnson said while reflecting on playing under Staley during her recent appearance on Post Moves. “Like you have to come in with a standard, and you have to have high expectations for yourself because when you don’t have expectations for yourself, then you start having bad habits, and she always says bad habits are contagious.”

“So, I think I carry that with me to this day. And it’s just a mindset. You just have to have this mindset even when things are not going your way or when things are going your way. And she does say they’re contagious, and they’re very contagious – good habits and bad habits – they’re very contagious,” she added.

Johnson’s growth at South Carolina was evident in how her role evolved over four seasons. As a freshman, she was still learning what it meant to compete on the biggest stage. By the time she reached her final years in Columbia, she had become an important piece of a team that remained in contention for a national title year after year.

Johnson was part of South Carolina’s 2022 championship team as a freshman, although she later admitted that she did not fully grasp the significance of the moment at the time. Two years later, she played a much bigger role in the Gamecocks’ undefeated 2024 title run, which ended with a victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the national championship game.

So by her final season, Johnson was no longer just known for her defense. She became more of a two-way player as she averaged almost 10 points per game, earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped South Carolina make its sixth straight Final Four.

But sadly, the Gamecocks’ championship run ended as they fell to the UCLA Bruins in the 2025-26 season. Yet even in the disappointment, Dawn Staley knew replacing her would be about much more than replacing her production on the court.

“We’re going to have to work extremely hard to replace all the things she’s given to us, all the blood, sweat and tears,” Staley said back in April, as per Greenville News. “She decided to come back for another year, and she really didn’t have to do that, and I think there’s a love affair with her in our program … it’s sad to see an era come to an end. But her future is bright.”

So far, Johnson has settled into a modest backup role with the Fever. She is averaging 3.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 10.3 minutes per game. While those numbers are still limited, her defensive energy and willingness to make an impact without needing the ball have given Indiana another useful option off the bench.

For now, Johnson is still finding her footing at the professional level. But the transition from South Carolina to Indiana has given her a chance to apply the lessons she picked up under Staley, particularly the importance of maintaining the same level of preparation regardless of her role. As her opportunities with the Fever grow, those lessons could become increasingly important.

The WNBA regular season is currently on hold as the league makes way for the 2026 FIBA World Cup. But the Fever have already clinched their spot in the playoffs, meaning the stakes will only get higher once the postseason begins. So as Indiana prepares for that next challenge, fans will be keeping an eye on the former South Carolina star to see whether the ‘pro habits’ can help her make an even bigger impact when the games matter most.