“That’s My Ray Ray”: Dawn Staley Praises South Carolina’s Raven Johnson’s All-Denim Look on Instagram

In a heartwarming moment, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley left a glowing comment on Raven Johnson’s Instagram after the guard posted a stunning picture of herself in an all-denim outfit. Johnson, a key player for the Gamecocks this season, has been integral to the team’s success, including their big win over the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Tournament final on March 9.

Following the victory, Staley gave her team a well-deserved four-day break, and some of the Gamecocks stars, including Johnson, took to social media to share moments of celebration. In response to Johnson’s fashionable post, Staley commented, “Oooooh beautiful one! That’s my Ray Ray.”

Chicago Sky star Kamilia Cardoso, who has been a close friend and teammate of Johnson for years, also reacted to the post with three love emojis. The two have played basketball together in AAU, at Syracuse, and later at South Carolina.

Johnson’s Instagram post quickly garnered nearly 16,000 likes and 192 comments, mostly from fans praising her style and celebrating her success.

But the fun will soon come to an end for Raven Johnson, as March Madness is fast approaching. The NCAA Tournament is set to begin with Selection Sunday on March 16, when the field of 68 teams for both the men’s and women’s tournaments will be announced. Coach Staley is hopeful that Johnson will continue her strong performance and help lead the Gamecocks through the NCAA Tournament.

Raven Johnson has had a remarkable journey at South Carolina. Part of the 2021 recruiting class alongside Bree Hall and Sania Feagin, Johnson faced a tough setback when she tore her ACL in November of her freshman year. She was granted a redshirt year, allowing her to preserve her eligibility and return stronger the following season.

Since her return, Johnson has steadily improved. In her first season back, she averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. The next season, her stats surged to 8.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. This season, she’s averaging 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game—continuing to play an essential role for South Carolina as they head into the tournament.