Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson shed light on superstar Caitlin Clark’s “goofy” personality behind the scenes as the pair of teammates let bygones be bygones
Caitlin Clark was described as a ‘goofy person’ by one of her new teammates(Image: Getty Images)
Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson pulled back the curtain on what Caitlin Clark is really like behind the scenes.
Last month, the Fever selected Johnson with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Since her arrival in Indiana, it hasn’t taken long for Clark to take the South Carolina product under her wing.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Johnson revealed she was pleasantly surprised to learn that Clark is an incredibly “goofy person” off the court. “She’s loving. Like, she’s a goofy person,” Johnson said of the 24-year-old. “I think a lot of people don’t really know her outside of basketball.
READ MORE: Mike Vrabel’s wife ‘broken’ by Dianna Russini scandal after wedding ring statementREAD MORE: NBC announcer stops Kentucky Derby broadcast after dealing with kidney stones
“Outside of basketball, she’s funny. She has so much personality. I think that’s what people need to know about her. Her personality goes a long way, and she’s a great person.”
Johnson additionally acknowledged Clark’s serious side, adding that she frequently tries to pick the star guard’s brain when time permits.
“She helps me through every little thing,” Johnson continued. “I can ask a question and she has the answer for it. … Just playing with somebody like her, it means a lot to me.
“But she also has that sense of humor where she makes me laugh, too. And I’m like, ‘Hey, where did that come from?’ So, it’s little things like that.”
Raven Johnson is relishing the opportunity to learn under Caitlin Clark on the Fever(Image: Getty Images)
As for how Johnson and Clark managed to build a tight-knit relationship in such little time, the 23-year-old credited their similar personalities and cheerful nature. “I’m also funny, too,” she explained. “So, I think that’s where we kind of match together and vibe with each other like that. So, I love being with her.”
It wasn’t long ago that Johnson and Clark were at opposite ends of a fierce Iowa-South Carolina rivalry at the collegiate level.
In the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Clark infamously waved off her assignment to guard Johnson before leaving her wide-open behind the arc.
The Gamecocks point guard opted not to take the shot — a decision that she later admitted took a toll on her confidence and generated a fierce wave of online backlash.
Clark and Johnson faced off once again on the biggest stage in the 2024 National Championship, during which South Carolina defeated Iowa, 87–75, to wrap up a spotless 38–0 campaign.
Despite their rocky history, Johnson asserted that there is no bad blood between her and Cark. “Yeah, I put the past in the past,” she said. “Honestly, when I put the Indiana Fever jersey on, I said, ‘ Let’s try to win the championship together.’
“And I think, you know, with her, that’s all she talks about, is winning, pro habits, and like, the little margin or room for error is very small when it comes to the finals games.
“She talks a lot about that,” Johnson continued. “So I just be telling her, like, I want to do whatever it takes to win. I want to win the championship, and that’s really the big goal for me and my teammates.”