Indiana Fever guard Raven Johnson and forward Myisha Hines-Allen went viral for their media availability before losing Game 3 to the Las Vegas Aces, ending their season on Thursday night.
Johnson, the Fever’s 2026 No. 10 overall pick out of South Carolina, asked Hines-Allen, “What was the chaos?”
Johnson was seemingly referring to Hines-Allen shoving A’ja Wilson in the first quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday, though neither Johnson nor Hines-Allen mentioned Wilson directly.
“I’m just a rage-baiter. That’s all I am,” Hines-Allen said. Johnson added, “And you do it with such a smile on your face.”
Brian “Hank” Haenchen wrote an article about it for The Indianapolis Star, and South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley took issue with Haenchen’s tweet promoting his article on Friday.
“I wrote about the Raven Johnson and Myisha Hines-Allen media sesh Thursday that apparently got the rookie a talking to from Dawn Staley,” Haenchen wrote. “I don’t understand what the issue was. It was fun, lighthearted and largely nondescript.”
Staley reposted it, writing, “If you only knew….or thought outside of your box. Furthermore if you’d just asked before assuming or reporting there might be some truth to your article but I’ll let you carry on.”
If you only knew….or thought outside of your box. Furthermore if you’d just asked before assuming or reporting there might be some truth to your article but I’ll let you carry on. https://t.co/s3m0XzSnUa
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) October 2, 2026
“Hi! Not sure if you read the story, but it was written yesterday following shootaround,” Haenchen replied to Staley. “That part of tweet you referenced was poorly worded and I apologize — I clarified in a reply. But no, not a clickbait story. Just a fun pregame report.”
As for the original media availability in question, Johnson apologized Friday morning.
“I sincerely apologize for the comments I made during the video with MHA,” Johnson tweeted. “What I said was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my words. I have nothing but love and respect for my big sister 4 life A’ja, and I truly wish her nothing but the best.”
“Ray Ray I love you for life,” Staley posted in response to Johnson’s apology. “You are a young talent that’s owning this moment. You did something in public and decided to apologize in public no matter who agrees or disagrees. Always remember your @GamecockWBB sisters will have love for you!”
Staley coached Johnson at South Carolina for five years, winning two national championships together. Wilson, the Aces’ 2018 No. 1 pick, also played and won a national title under Staley at South Carolina.
The Aces and Fever produced several headlines throughout this WNBA season, and by comparison, Johnson’s comments barely register on the sports media Richter scale.
In this first-round playoff series alone, Wilson had a heated verbal confrontation with a Fever fan, which the Prime Video broadcast addressed. After the Aces eliminated the Fever, head coach Becky Hammon made a savage assessment for all of Indiana to stew on until next season.
About Megan Armstrong
Since first getting published as a student by the Kansas City Star in 2013, Megan Armstrong has gone wherever curiosity and stories have taken her, specializing in sports, media, music, and culture coverage. She also has an extensive background in interviewing and profiling public figures. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Boardroom, Bleacher Report, Esquire, GQ, GRAMMY.com, NYLON, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, and elsewhere.