Raven Johnson adds defense, championship pedigree to Fever at No. 10
The former South Carolina guard and SEC Defensive Player of the Year reunites with Aliyah Boston, bringing leadership, defense, and big-game experience to Indiana’s backcourt.
As the Indiana Fever prepare for a new season, it’s already clear how last season influenced the roster construction ahead of training camp on Sunday.
After a season defined by injuries — one that required countless hardship exceptions and saw 18 different players take the floor — adding reliable backcourt depth became a priority.
The Fever re-signed guards Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Sophie Cunningham, added Ty Harris in free agency, and then used their first-round pick on another former South Carolina point guard.
At 8:03 p.m. ET on Monday, more than 500 MVP season-ticket holders sat at tables inside the entry pavilion at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, part of a special event to usher in the 2026 WNBA season.
Many rose to their feet when the selection was shown on a large video board. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the Fever had selected Raven Johnson with the No. 10 pick.
Both general manager Amber Cox and head coach Stephanie White made clear they’ve moved on and don’t want to look back.
“What injuries?” Cox asked rhetorically. “We’re putting all of that behind us. We’re not thinking about any of that.”
Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, Cunningham, and Mitchell were all guards who suffered injuries that kept them from finishing the season.
(Also, in the most important update of the night: I asked Cox how Aliyah Boston is doing in her recovery from an injury at Unrivaled. “Aliyah’s doing great. Ready to go,” she said.)
Given what unfolded last year, highlighted by All-WNBA talent Caitlin Clark suffering an injury a few days into training camp and then only being available for 13 games, the philosophy was clear: strengthen the backcourt.
The top three picks came as expected — Azzi Fudd (UConn) to Dallas, Olivia Miles (TCU) to Minnesota, and Awa Fam Thiam (Spain) to Seattle — though the order remained uncertain.
When the Fever made their selection, Cox and White had already left the draft room to join fans two levels up — a rare public moment during a pivotal offseason decision.
“When we are going through the list and you’re charting at the very top of who you think is gonna go where, we really thought Raven was gonna be in that upper half of the first round,” Cox shared. “We knew if we had the opportunity, we were gonna take her.
“Yes, best available — but also a great fit.”
