South-Carolina
South Carolina’s Raven Johnson carries her grandfather’s legacy into Sweet 16
Dawn Staley & Gamecocks on ‘rusty’ start in huge win over Southern U
Dawn Staley and Joyce Edwards on their ‘rusty’ start in their first game in two weeks that turned into a massive 69-point win NCAA tournament.
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COLUMBIA, SC ― With the clock winding down and pressures of the Women’s NCAA Tournament rising, South Carolina senior guard Raven Johnson isn’t playing just to win. She plays in honor of a voice she can no longer hear – but that she still carries with her every time she steps onto the court.
That motivation was on full display Monday night, as the No. 1-seeded Gamecocks took down No. 9 USC to advance to the Sweet 16. Johnson earned her 1,000th career point ― what would prove to be her last point at Colonial Life Arena ― on a steal and fast-break layup that brought a roar from the crowd. The Gamecocks will face No. 4 Oklahoma Saturday in Sacramento, with another Elite Eight appearance on the line.
For Johnson, the moment symbolized something deeper – a career shaped by the memory of her late grandfather. Johnson’s family watched as she achieved the milestone, her mother, grandmother and twin brother. It was a full circle moment for a player whose journey took root in her grandparents’ home.
Her grandparents helped raise her and her twin brother, Richard Johnson. The family lived together and she often calls her grandmother “mother” and her grandfather “papa,” reflecting the impact they had on her upbringing.
“My grandparents did a really good job,” Johnson said. “We wouldn’t be playing sports if it wasn’t for them.”
The Boones introduced the twins to basketball through their church and spent countless hours training them, often pushing them past their limits. A sergeant first class in the Army Reserves, he supervised soldiers in his unit and brought that same discipline to his grandchildren on the court, being demanding, structured and determined.
“I remember being outside and he was training us and I thought it was so hard. I wanted to give up,” Johnson said. “I used to cry, and he would be like ‘You’re not going to cry in my face, and you’re not going to give up.’ It was little things like that that made me tough.”
The standard of grit, accountability and composure, is something Johnson carries today.
“She’s just a winner and she’s a great point guard,” said South Carolina senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who also played with Johnson at Westlake High School in Atlanta. “When she’s confident, we’re confident. When she’s poised, we’re poised. It’s hard to have that type of personality and leadership on the court, but she carries it well.”
Rodrick Boone was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December 2012 and died in April 2013 while Johnson was at a tournament in New Orleans. She was 10 years old.
“I remember I shut down,” Johnson said. “My mind went blank. I was like ‘What?’ I thought he was untouchable.”
Months after her grandfather’s death, something shifted in her mindset.
“I think that’s my why,” Johnson said. “I keep going today because he is my why.”
As a child, Johnson didn’t even like basketball. She preferred T-ball and cheerleading and thought basketball wasn’t for girls, until she saw Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins and began to see herself differently.
“She was so pretty to me and I remember asking ‘Can I be girly and hoop?’” Johnson said.
She was the only girl on her recreational team, earning the nickname “Killer” for her defensive intensity alongside her brother, nicknamed “Thriller” for his offensive ability. The boys tested Johnson by playing physical and trying to push her out of the sport.
“I used to be cooking them out there a little bit, and I think they didn’t like that,” Johnson said.
She said the boys trying to make it hard on her actually made her tougher both physically and mentally.
Her grandmother, Connie Boone, said her grandfather would be proud of what Johnson has become.
“He might be crying but he would be happy about it,” her grandmother said. “You start them young, but you never know what the outcome is going to be.”
Johnson imagines the conversations she’d be having with her papa if he was still here.
“He would still be on my butt riding me, he’ll tell me maybe I need to fix something,” Johnson said. “He’ll be happy and I think he’ll be like ‘All right let’s get back to the drawing board. Let’s get ready for the next opponent.’”
She knows her papa is always watching, and she talks to him a lot at night.
“I just want to tell him that I’m going to keep pushing through even when it gets tough,” Johnson said. “He’s always telling me to push through because nobody cares. Nobody cares if you’re at your lowest, nobody cares.”
On Monday, fans chanted “Raven, Raven, Raven” as she walked off the court for the final time at Colonial Life Arena, Johnson’s moment was bigger than the scoreboard.
It was about diligence, progress and a promise kept.
With another game ahead and the possibility of a deeper tournament run, she isn’t finished. She continues to push and play for the voice that gave her a reason to begin.
Alyssia Hamilton is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
South-Carolina
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina box score: Full stats from 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament continues with Sweet 16 action Saturday as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 4 Oklahoma battle for a spot in the Elite Eight.
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Another year, another Sweet 16 appearance for Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks, who are a serious championship contender. They’ll face the Sooners in a SEC conference matchup. The game between both squads resulted in one of South Carolina’s three losses this season.
Oklahoma won the overtime thriller 94-82 in Norman on January 23.
Here is a look at the box score from Saturday’s Sweet 16 Regional 4 in Sacramento.
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina March Madness box score
Oklahoma stats
|
NO |
Name |
POS |
MIN |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
OREB |
REB |
AST |
ST |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
Sahara Williams |
F |
24 |
2-8 |
0-0 |
1-1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
4 |
Caya Smith |
F |
7 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Zya Vann |
G |
22 |
2-7 |
1-3 |
1-2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|
2 |
Aaliyah Chavez |
G |
30 |
7-18 |
3-9 |
2-2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
19 |
|
21 |
Brooklyn Stewart |
F |
15 |
0-2 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
12 |
Payton Verhulst |
G |
29 |
4-11 |
2-4 |
0-0 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
|
22 |
Keziah Lofton |
G |
10 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
15 |
Raegan Beers |
C |
27 |
4-8 |
0-1 |
2-6 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
|
Total |
21-57 |
6-17 |
6-11 |
13 |
31 |
9 |
5 |
9 |
12 |
7 |
54 |
|||
|
36.8% |
35.3% |
54.5% |
||||||||||||
South Carolina stats
|
NO |
Name |
POS |
MIN |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
OREB |
REB |
AST |
ST |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
Joyce Edwards |
F |
28 |
3-10 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
|
1 |
Maddy McDaniel |
G |
13 |
0-3 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
30 |
Maryam Dauda |
F |
3 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
31 |
Alicia Tournebize |
F |
8 |
1-4 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
|
5 |
Tessa Johnson |
G |
21 |
6-8 |
2-2 |
0-0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
|
Ta’Niya Latson |
G |
26 |
6-10 |
3-3 |
6-6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
21 |
|
|
11 |
Madina Okot |
C |
19 |
3-6 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
5 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
|
44 |
Agot Makeer |
G |
21 |
3-8 |
1-2 |
1-1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
|
25 |
Raven Johnson |
G |
25 |
8-11 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
|
Total |
30-60 |
9-13 |
9-9 |
12 |
35 |
18 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
12 |
78 |
|||
|
50.0% |
69.2% |
100.0% |
||||||||||||
As for the NCAA tournament, South Carolina has dominated so far, winning by 69 points against Southern before blowing out the USC Trojans by 40 in the Round of 32.
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Oklahoma has made a nice run in this year’s tournament as a No. 4 seed, beating Idaho by 30 before knocking off No. 5 Michigan State by six in the second round.
These two teams will give each other fits. The real question could be which team will final possession and will they capilitize?
What channel is Oklahoma vs. South Carolina on today?
Oklahoma vs. South Carolina How to Watch
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Golden 1 Center- Saramento, California
TV: ESPN (Available on FuboTV)
More college basketball news:
South-Carolina
Where to watch South Carolina vs. Oklahoma in March Madness Sweet 16: Time, TV Channel
March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 1 seed South Carolina taking on No. 4 seed Oklahoma in a Sweet 16 matchup on Saturday, March 28. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Sooners and Gamecocks.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more
What time is Oklahoma vs South Carolina Sweet 16 game?
No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 4 Oklahoma tips off at 5:00 PM (EST) on Saturday, March 28 from Golden 1 Center (Sacramento, California).
What channel is Oklahoma vs South Carolina Sweet 16 game?
No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 4 Oklahoma is airing live on ESPN.
How to stream Oklahoma vs South Carolina Sweet 16 game
No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 4 Oklahoma is available to stream on Fubo.
Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Fubo
Oklahoma March Madness results
- Round of 62: def No. 13 Idaho, 89-59
- Round of 32: def No. 5 Michigan State, 77-71
South Carolina March Madness results
Round of 32: def No. 9 USC, 101-61
Round of 62: def No. 16 Southern, 103-34
Women’s March Madness schedule today
See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Saturday’s NCAA Tournament action here.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 18-19: First Four
- March 20-21: First Round
- March 22-23: Second Round
- March 27-28: Sweet 16
- March 29-30: Elite 8
- April 3: Final Four
- April 5: National Championship
Join the USA TODAY Survivor Pool to win cash prizes
Watch Spartanburg nurse practitioner Chandler Nash talk about measles
Chandler Hash, a nurse practitioner at Parkside Health Center talks about measles and vaccine
Not long ago, it appeared almost certain that the measles outbreak centered in Spartanburg would surpass 1,000 cases.
Now that case total may be unlikely.
On March 27, DPH reported no new infections. The total number of cases remains at 997, where it has stood since March 17, when DPH reported one new infection.
There is currently one person in quarantine, according to the March 27 DPH update.
The measles outbreak began in October and grew somewhat slowly until the Christmas holidays. In January, the number of cases exploded—from 185 on Jan. 2 to 847 on Jan. 30.
In a March 25 media briefing, state epidemiologist Linda Bell was asked about the declining number of cases.
She credited an uptick in vaccinations in January and February, as well as DPH efforts to identify cases quickly and quarantine people who were infected or exposed.
If no new infections occur, DPH officials said the outbreak could be declared ended on April 26.
DPH officials explained that it takes 42 days with no new infections, “to declare an end to a measles outbreak. This is double the number of days for an incubation period (21 days) and a clear indicator of a broken transmission chain.”
Bell said DPH is asking school nurses and physicians’ offices to report any possible measles symptoms.
She added that health officials are keeping an eye on spring break — April 6-10 for public schools in Spartanburg County — as families might travel for vacation or to visit family members. People lacking immunity could be at risk.
“We remain vigilant,” Bell said, stressing that the two-dose MMR vaccine is the most effective protection against the spread of measles.
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