“We were screaming in the hallway before the game”: Gamecocks’ Raven Johnson reminisces the team’s energy before Final Four game against NC State

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson recently took a trip down memory lane in a YouTube video titled "Episode 6 – Nothing Beat Love," uploaded on June 6 on the Gamecocks channel. In the video, she recalled the once-in-a-lifetime team's energy before the Final Four game against NC State.

She reminisced about the intense and exhilarating moments leading up to the game, highlighting the infectious camaraderie and spirited atmosphere within the team. She said:

“The whole team, I don't even think we were nervous because we were screaming in the hallway before the game,” Johnson said. “We were cackling. We were just having fun before the game.” [Time Stamp - 2:27]

Later in the video, she commended the coaches for instilling confidence in the players, setting the stage for an unforgettable showdown in the March Madness game.

“Like, that's top of the top moment,” she said [Time stamp - 4:18]. “Like, that's a moment, like, when the light's on, you got to shine.”

In the previous video, "Episode 5 – Love the Madness," reflecting on their perfect record entering the NCAA Tournament, Johnson shared her mindset going into the tournament:

“It was really win or go home in my mind saying like I said, ‘It was a revenge story’. All I wanted to do… just get back to the national championship,” Johnson said. [Time stamp - 2:17]

The SC Gamecocks were crestfallen when Iowa defeated them in the 2022-23 campaign, which ended their run in the Final Four. But they turned it around in the following 2023-24 season.

When Dawn Staley put Raven Johnson onto Caitlin Clark

In the most recent NCAA championship game, following South Carolina's triumphant 87-75 victory over Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes, a fired-up Raven Johnson declared to the ecstatic crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:

"All I have to say is the revenge tour is over!"

South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson (25) and Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) collide on the court in the finals of the Final Four of the women's 2024 NCAA Tournament.

The turning point came in the second quarter when South Carolina coach Dawn Staley tasked Johnson with guarding Clark, and the game took a dramatic turn.

"I was ready for the moment," Johnson said [h/t ESPN]. "I studied her moves, and I was ready. I had confidence this year. I was telling myself, last year was not going to happen again."

Johnson's stats for the 2023-24 season were impressive, with 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and a field goal percentage of 44.3. Having committed to play for South Carolina in June 2020, Raven Johnson refused to let go of that significant moment.