Raven Johnson and the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the TCU Horned Frogs to advance to their sixth straight Final Four matchup. They’ll now play arguably their toughest opponent, the UConn Huskies, in the Final Four.
The Gamecocks have been one of the most dominant teams in the country in the last decade. However, this journey hasn’t been free of hurdles and setbacks. The Gamecocks have had their fair share of issues to deal with.
One of the biggest shocks for them was losing Chloe Kitts before the season even started. During a practice in September, Kitts tore her ACL and was ruled out for the entire season. As difficult as it might’ve been, the Gamecocks made adjustments to their season plan.
During a recent conversation with Autumn Johnson, South Carolina star Raven Johnson spoke on how this Final Four run has been different than the last four seasons she has been with the Gamecocks.
She said that there were a lot of new faces on the team, and that made her role as the team leader even bigger. Even as a leader, Johnson had days throughout the season when she needed players around her to lift her up.
“We had big injuries, like Chloe Kitts,” Johnson said. “When she went down, I remember saying like, ‘Damn, what are we gonna do without her?’ Like, the things she does for our team is phenomenal.”
Ta’Niya Latson also dealt with injuries throughout the season, and in those moments, Johnson felt like her role in the team became tougher. Despite the challenges and setbacks, Johnson pushed her team through, and now they’re in the Final Four once again.
Raven Johnson Made a Controversial Remark
Women’s basketball has had a meteoric rise in the last few years. The fanbase has expanded, both at collegiate and WNBA levels, and they’re getting the recognition they’ve always deserved.
However, with the rise in popularity, the inevitable comparison with men’s basketball has been on the rise. Raven Johnson recently added her two cents to the discussion, claiming that women’s basketball is more skilled than men’s basketball.
“I think women’s basketball is more skilled than men’s basketball, I think so,” she said.
Johnson said that there’s no difference between the two, as a women’s basketball player has to work just as hard to make it. But when it comes to skills and playing as a team, women’s basketball requires more.
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