The WNBA playoffs are rapidly approaching, and teams will only be as strong as their weakest link. In the case of the Indiana Fever, that is the worrying performances of Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull. From the bench, Indiana have failed to find a trustworthy option to help weather the storm when Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell take a well-deserved break. It is time Raven Johnson was granted a fair opportunity to prove her worth.
Head coach Stephanie White is under serious pressure to lead the Fever deep into the playoffs this year, which has clearly influenced her team selection decisions. Due to her rookie status, Johnson has been used sparingly throughout the campaign, allowing more veteran options, such as Sophie Cunningham, to take a more significant role in the rotation.
During her first year in the league, the South Carolina alum has averaged 3.1 points, 1.1 assists, and 0.3 steals per game. However, she has been limited to just 10.6 minutes per game and has yet to make a start in 37 appearances.
While the statistics aren't overly impressive, it is hard for a young player to make a positive contribution when her time on the floor is so sparse. In the moments Johnson has been granted a longer stretch in the rotation, she has shown she can contribute in more ways than one -- which is more than can be said about some of her teammates at the moment.
Johnson's team-first mentality could be huge for Indiana
Graduating from Dawn Staley's School of Hard Knocks requires more than talent: it requires a selfless attitude and a relentless work ethic. Raven Johnson has all of this in abundance; Stephanie White must start using it to her advantage.
Johnson's most recent performance during the Fever's 93-77 blowout defeat to the Washington Mystics gave fans a glimpse of the defensive prowess the versatile guard possesses. The 23-year-old recorded 1 steal and 2 blocks in 26 minutes.
Indiana's rookie showed throughout her time in the NCAA that she is more than just a resilient defender; her ability to dictate an offense can elevate her teammates' performances and could work in tandem with the Fever's high-scoring duo, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. In her senior year, Johnson averaged 5.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Putting the ball in Johnson's hands at certain moments of the game would bring a new dynamic to Indiana's offense, while presenting opponents a new problem to solve. Clark will always be the vocal point of the Fever's blueprint; however, giving her more off-the-ball reps could be a devastating weapon Stephanie White turns to in later stages of playoff matchups.
Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull are failing to make a positive impact in their current form. Due to her versatile skill set, Raven Johnson has the potential to impact the game in more ways than her struggling teammates, especially on the defensive end of the floor. The Indiana Fever must consider elevating her role in the rotation if they truly want to make a deep postseason run.
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