By: Jennifer Portee
4/26/2026
The Indiana Fever might’ve walked into Brooklyn with eyes on Caitlin Clark’s return, but it was rookie Raven Johnson who quietly ran the show.
In a 109-91 preseason win over the New York Liberty, Johnson made her first WNBA action count, finishing with six points and a game high eight assists while setting the tone as a floor general. No rush, no panic just control. The kind of presence that doesn’t always scream at you on the stat sheet, but change the entire rhythm of the game.
And that rhythm mattered.
With Clark easing back into action scoring seven points, four assists, and three rebounds in under 17 minutes, the Fever leaned on ball movement. Johnson delivered exactly that, orchestrating the offense and keeping teammates in their spots. Whether it was pushing tempo or threading passes through traffic, she looked comfortable… like she belonged.
Meanwhile, veterans Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Kelsey Mitchell led the scoring charge with 18 points each, capitalizing off the clean looks created by Indiana’s ball movement. The Fever did all this without key pieces like Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull, making the performance even more telling.
The Liberty got 20 from Han Xu and 16 from Breanna Stewart, but never quite found a defensive answer for Indiana’s pace and playmaking.
Sure, all eyes will stay locked on Clark as she works her way back into full form after an injury- limited 2025 season. And yes, her early burst five points in the first 71 seconds was a reminder of what she brings.
But if Saturday night said anything, it’s this: Indiana might’ve found something real in Raven Johnson.
A rookie who doesn’t just play the game she organizes it.
And if that continues, the Fever’s backcourt might be a bigger problem for the league than anyone expected.