Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said things are “coming together slowly” for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after the team recorded its second straight win, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs on Tuesday.CSK, going through a transition, came into the match after a 23-run win over Delhi Capitals and followed it up with another win to move up to eighth place in the points table.“Slowly, slowly, it is starting to come together, I feel,” Gaikwad told the broadcaster after the match.“Everyone kind of knows what their role is, which overs and what lengths to bowl at. I think they are adjusting and adapting really well according to what (the) team needs.”“As I said, slowly, slowly, we are getting better and better and that is a good sign for us,” he said.Gaikwad said the team was aiming for a score of around 220, but the total of 192/5 turned out to be enough.“We defended a good score. I felt it was a par score, given that the wicket drastically changed after the first seven or eight overs,” he said.“It started spinning a bit, it started stopping a bit. We were first looking at 220, 210, but then, we thought anything around 190, 180 would be a good score and after that, we just had to get a good power play in bowling,” Gaikwad added.Gaikwad, who has been struggling for runs this season, having scored just 63 runs in five games so far, said on his form, “Well, firstly, I think, good to be on winning side after a long time. I felt it was getting into my head even when I was batting, but after the last game, I felt a bit relaxed, I feel I’m feeling really good. Just make sure that do whatever the team needs, whatever the situation needs. And I feel even mentally, I’m feeling really well, feeling positive, and just a big, a big knock is just around the corner, but as long as the other guys are just covering up for me definitely I’ll do it when it’s needed.“CSK’s win was set up by Noor Ahmad, who returned figures of 3/21 and picked up key wickets in the chase. He said managing conditions was important.“The dew was there, and it was humid, so (I was trying to) keep my fingers dry and that helped me a lot to hit the right areas,” he said.“I think the ball was not coming really well to the bat and to get advantage of that, it was good. I will keep putting effort to contribute for my team in the coming matches,” he said.KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said the bowlers did well to restrict CSK but the batters failed to build momentum.“No real momentum with the bat, absolutely. I thought with the ball we (did) really good, 190 on this wicket was really good, especially (when in) the powerplay they got 70 odd runs,” Rahane said.“After that, pulling back to 190 was an amazing job from our bowling unit. I thought initially with our batting, we just got 36 or 37 runs in the powerplay.”Rahane said the team needs to stay positive despite five losses.“It’s tough at the moment. Yes, we’re not winning matches, it’s tough. What is important for all of us as a group is to stay positive, keep our head up, keep our chin up, just focus on the moment,” he said.“It’s all about being positive and keep our heads up,” Rahane said.Rahane also spoke about pacer Kartik Tyagi, who bowled at 148.2 kmph and dismissed Sanju Samson for 48.“He is working really hard in the nets. He is been bowling really good and a great talent. The pace which he’s bowling at the moment has been amazing. Game by game, he is improving his skills,” Rahane said.

Arne Slot took positives from Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final exit to holders Paris St Germain but fears striker Hugo Ekitike has suffered a “really bad” injury.

The Reds came into the second leg with a mountain to climb having been thoroughly outclassed in last Wednesday’s first leg at the Parc des Princes, where the hosts’ dominance was not reflected by the 2-0 scoreline.

PSG’s missed opportunities allowed Anfield to dream of a famous comeback, but it was not to be as key interventions and a controversially overturned penalty frustrated a vastly improved Liverpool.

Ousmane Dembele’s second-half brace eventually sealed PSG’s 2-0 second-leg win and progress to the semi-finals with a 4-0 aggregate triumph, but Slot took hope from a night that saw Liverpool’s final route to silverware end.

“I think we made a lot of progression compared to last week,” the Liverpool boss said. “I have to give a lot of credit to the players, how hard they worked.

“I have to give a lot of credit to our fans, how they helped us tonight to execute our gameplan. If we have a high press, it’s so helpful if there are fans behind you, to keep on pushing you.

“Unfortunately, it’s one of the many examples of this season where we weren’t able to score from the many chances we had.

“Again, we were so far underperforming in terms of xG (expected goals), and that is just an ongoing thing with us throughout the whole season.

“Add to that, as it seems to be, a bad injury (to Ekitike). We don’t know for sure yet. Add to that another intervention of the VAR, which went not in our favour and that’s also not for the first time this season.

“Then, of course, we are very disappointed because I think there were parts in the second half where you could just feel if we can score now this is going to become a special night.

“But the future looks very bright for this team, because we’ve shown that we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium, to be the dominant team.

“Not many teams can be dominant against Paris St Germain and generate so many chances as we did. But, yeah, chances is one thing, scoring is a second.”

Liverpool’s attention turns from pushing for Champions League glory to ensuring they qualify for next season’s competition as their Premier League campaign resumes with Sunday’s derby at Everton.

Ekitike will miss that match and it seems a substantial period of time having gone down awkwardly in the first half, with the France international leaving on a stretcher amid fears he had suffered an Achilles injury.

“Hugo looks really bad but it’s difficult for me to say how bad,” Slot said. “Tomorrow we will investigate this further, (see) how bad this is for him. Let’s see. But it doesn’t look good.

“I didn’t see him at half-time and after the game he had already gone home so I haven’t spoken to him yet.”

Ekitike’s former club PSG have a semi-final against Bayern Munich or Real Madrid to prepare for as they bid to win back-to-back Champions League crowns.

Head coach Luis Enrique said: “Two really good teams, Liverpool played a fantastic game, a lot of intensity.

“There were a few moments where we had the upper hand. Things got even tougher for us in the second half but we showed what kind of team we are.

“It was a wonderful quarter-final of the Champions League and great to come through and qualify for the semi-finals.”

For the first time in seven years, it feels like the Minnesota Vikings are on the brink of drafting a rookie running back in the first four rounds or so of the NFL draft — and all the hints are pointing at Nebraska tailback Emmett Johnson.

Johnson has become one of the cleaner RB matches for Minnesota.

Of course, like every prospect, Johnson is not a shoo-in to turn purple, but the evidence is stronger for him than for any other rookie runner.

Several Vikings Clues Keep Pointing toward Emmett Johnson

The Vikings have four picks in the Top 100 next week. Johnson may be one of them.

The “College Production” Theory

Here’s a newsflash: the Vikings need to draft good players. They haven’t really done that in the last four years, outside of a few notable exceptions.

Therefore, according to ESPN, Minnesota may be prioritizing college production over age and youthful unknowns. Matt Miller wrote last weekend, “The Vikings must hit at a higher rate on Day 2 picks, and with that in mind, I’ve heard the team will target players with higher college production over potential or traits.”

Johnson played over 40 games at Nebraska and will be a 23-year-old rookie during the regular season. He emphatically checks the production box ESPN described.

The Hometown Angle

You know the high school that Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald attended? Holy Angels in Richfield. That’s where Johnson went before taking the plunge at Nebraska.

The Vikings and their fans always love a hometown story — see: Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham — and Johnson fits the criteria. He was named Minnesota Mr. Football in 2021.

From Johnson’s Lips to God’s Ear

What’s more, Johnson wouldn’t mind being a Viking. He said so. Johnson told NBC Sports about his meeting with the Vikings’ coaches in February, “Hey, man, it would mean a lot. I grew up in the inner city. I lived about 10-15 minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium. I had a great formal meeting with them and Kevin O’Connell. I would love to go back home.”

Of course, Johnson doesn’t control where he’ll be drafted, but if Minnesota knows he wants to return home, the temptation to draft him heightens. Why not fire up a hometown angle with Thielen and Ham freshly retired? Nobody would hate it, especially not Johnson personally.

The Pre-Draft Visit

The Vikings don’t meet with every running back. But they met with Johnson.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted Monday, “Source: Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson concluded a 30-visit with the Vikings. Johnson ran for 1,451 yards and 15 total TDs last season en route to 1st-Team All-American honors for the Cornhuskers. He is considered a likely top-100 pick.”

If you’re keeping score at home, that’s two meetings with Johnson for the Vikings: one at the Combine and one formal Top 30 visit. They’re clearly intrigued.

Zone Coverage‘s Trevor Ripley noted on Johnson last month, “Minnesota could get the falling star at a reasonable pick. Johnson’s primary role in the NFL may be as a receiving back; he’ll need to greatly improve his pass protection to garner a bigger role.”

“But Johnson’s 251 carries this past season at 5.8 yards per clip are strong signs he can work up to an every-down back. Interestingly enough, many have compared him to Kenneth Gainwell, a free agent who many Vikings fans were eager to bring aboard before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson has proven to be a workhorse, something the Vikings became accustomed to with Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook. The good thing is he won’t have to be, at least initially.

The Need for a Rookie RB

Since 2017, Minnesota has drafted four running backs:

• Dalvin Cook
• Alexander Mattison
• Ty Chandler
• DeWayne McBride

Cook succeeded and then some, completing six successful seasons in Minnesota before falling off a cliff with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Mattison came aboard in 2019, serving as an adept RB2 for five seasons but not much more.

Chandler was an RB3, and McBride didn’t last long.

Under O’Connell, the Vikings’ rushing offense has never hit a groove, preferring the friendly confines of a pass-happy attack, fitting for a former quarterback like O’Connell. It’s time to change that, though, and especially with youth. Aaron Jones will turn 32 in December, and Jordan Mason will be 27 next month. Both men are scheduled to become free agents in 2027.

The Vikings need a rookie running back who can take the RB1 baton in 2027. Why not Johnson?

Two 3rd-Round Picks in Johnson Territory

Perhaps the most convincing evidence, Minnesota has two picks in Round 3, also known as prime territory for Johnson.

Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has his organic 82nd pick, in addition to the 97th, a compensatory selection for Sam Darnold’s free-agent exit last year. For now, Johnson is considered the 106th-best player in the draft, according to the Consensus Big Board, so Minnesota will have two reasonable chances to draft him in Round 3 if it’s in the mood.

Team USA star Ilona Maher is not happy with her alma mater, Quinnipiac University, after their recent decision regarding their women’s rugby team.

The university released a statement on Tuesday, stating a realignment of their athletics program “to support long-term competitive, financial, and Title IX objectives.” Within the statement, the women’s rugby team is transitioning from a varsity team to a club team “at the conclusion of the current competitive cycle.”

“These decisions are never easy, but they are essential to ensuring that Quinnipiac Athletics remains equitable, competitive, and sustainable for the long term,” athletic director Greg Amodio said in the statement.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Ilona Maher of the USA looks on during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool A match between the USA and Australia at York Community Stadium in York, England, on Aug. 30, 2025. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Quinnipiac’s transition of the women’s rugby team “follows a holistic assessment that incorporates competitive sustainability, national participation trends, resource allocation, and gender equity impacts,” according to the statement.

No matter the case, Maher is furious, and she went public with it on social media.

“Shame on you,” she posted to her Instagram Stories while tagging the school and the athletics page with a screenshot of the statement showcasing the decision.

USA RUGBY TO INTRODUCE ‘OPEN’ GENDER CATEGORY FOR TRANS ATHLETES

Then, Maher posted a text chain she had with an unknown recipient, where she asked if “girls will lose scholarships and everything.”

“Yes,” the other line responded. “None of them can afford to stay. I have two athletes who have no parents. They have nowhere to go if they aren’t at QU. I can’t believe this happened.”

The statement adds the university will “redirect varsity level resources to programs with greater long-term stability and strategic alignment,” which would confirm this text chain about scholarships for the women in the program.

Ilona Maher is seen before the NCAA women’s basketball national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“This action is in no way meant to diminish the dedication, effort or ability of these fine student athletes, coaches and alumni,” Amodio added. “They have contributed greatly to Quinnipiac Athletics and to the vitality and history of the University.”

The Bobcats are also adding a men’s indoor and outdoor distance running program to their existing track and field squad as part of this new realignment. The university viewed it as a “high impact opportunity” to advance “both competitive and gender equity objectives” for the athletics program.

“Athletics will coordinate with Campus Recreation to ensure women’s rugby remains a well-resources and organized club program and will work closely with students to ensure a smooth and respectful transition,” the statement continued.

Maher, 29, was recruited to join the Bobcats’ women’s rugby team after playing at Norwich University — her first year ever playing the game. Maher’s father, Michael, encouraged her to try it after she grew tired of softball.

Ilona Maher of the United States plays during the Women’s Rugby World Cup match against Samoa at LNER Community Stadium in York on Sept. 6, 2025. (Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Maher helped Quinnipiac win three National Intercollegiate Rugby Association championships, and she was named to the NIRA All-American team all three of those years. She was also given the MA Sorensen Award as the country’s top collegiate women’s player in 2017.

In 2024, Maher was a key piece in helping Team USA’s women’s rugby team secure the country’s first-ever medal in the sport, winning bronze over Australia.

Coverage of the 90th Masters was spread across broadcast networks and streaming, but Sunday’s final round belonged to CBS and Paramount+, with Jim Nantz on the call.

Over the decades, the network has polished its Masters coverage into what is largely viewed as golf broadcasting’s gold standard. Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a rare repeat at historic Augusta National drew criticism from some viewers as apparent broadcast errors surfaced.

After McIlroy’s second shot on the 18th hole, cameras lost track of the ball as it landed in the woods right of the fairway. That was one of several shots in which tracers seemed to have difficulty keeping up with as a ball was in flight. CBS, according to reports, uses a brief tape delay for some shots rather than broadcasting every moment in real time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

A general view of the 16th hole during a practice round before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 6, 2026. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

PGA Tour golfer Kevin Kisner, who served as a guest analyst during SiriusXM’s coverage of Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds, was among those who questioned CBS’ approach to this year’s Masters during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ “Fore Play Golf” podcast.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER TAKES ISSUE WITH MASTERS’ COURSE CONDITIONS AFTER SECOND-PLACE FINISH

“I was so f—ing confused the entire time by trying to keep up with the behind-the-scenes CBS feed,” Kisner said. “They’re literally showing s—t that I knew happened ten minutes ago all day long. It was so bad that I in fact text Colt Knost during the show and said, ‘do you all ever show a live shot?’ I’m better off following the f—ing app than following your feed.”

Kevin Kisner lines up his putt on the 9th hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament in Silvis, Illinois, on July 3, 2025. (Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images)

Kisner compared the viewing experience — which he described as out of sync — to major events like the Super Bowl.

“So your entire Masters coverage is a fantasy world. It’s bulls—. Whatever we all watch has already happened seven minutes ago. Could you imagine watching the f—ing Super Bowl and being like, ‘yea Tom Brady threw that touchdown seven minutes ago, we’re going to act like it’s live here so our announcers can sound really smart and we’re going to sit here and he’s going to throw it wide open down the middle but it actually happened seven minutes ago and everyone in the stadium’s taking a p—. What are we doing, man?”

NFL games feature several built-in commercial breaks, while the Masters has limited commercial interruption as multiple players hit shots simultaneously across the course.

A general view of the leaderboard as patrons walk the course during a practice round before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 6, 2026. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

ESPN hold the rights to this season’s next scheduled major, the PGA Championship, which begins next month at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ademola Lookman was the hero on Tuesday night as Atlético Madrid secured a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a 3–2 aggregate victory over FC Barcelona.

Despite suffering a 2–1 defeat in the second leg, Atlético advanced thanks to Lookman’s decisive first-half goal, which ultimately proved the difference over the two legs. The result marks Atlético’s first appearance in the semi-finals since the 2016–17 campaign.

The Nigerian international continues to make his mark in Europe, moving into third place among Nigeria’s all-time top scorers in the competition with eight goals—behind Obafemi Martins (9) and Victor Osimhen (16).

Barcelona made a blistering start at home, taking the lead just four minutes into the contest through Lamine Yamal. The hosts continued to press and found a second goal in the 24th minute when Ferran Torres curled a fine effort into the top corner to level the tie on aggregate.

Atlético, however, responded with composure. In the 31st minute, Marcos Llorente led a swift counterattack and delivered a precise pass to Lookman, who calmly slotted home to restore Atlético’s aggregate advantage.

Barcelona thought they had pulled level again in the 55th minute when Torres found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

Lookman was later substituted in the 66th minute, with Nicolás González coming on in his place, while Atlético also introduced Álex Baena. Barcelona responded with attacking changes, bringing on Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski in a bid to rescue the tie.

The home side’s hopes suffered a major setback in the 80th minute when Eric García was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after bringing down Alexander Sørloth.

With the numerical advantage, Atlético managed the closing stages effectively, holding firm under late pressure to eliminate Barcelona and book their place in the final four.

Sergio Garcia posted an apology to social media on Tuesday for taking his anger out on the second tee box during the final round of the Masters.

Garcia, 46, hit a shot into the bunker on the second hole and took out his anger on the box, shattering his driver after slamming it into the turf twice and taking chunks out of the ground. He then took another swing at a table with a green cooler.

The 2017 Masters champion said he regrets the way he acted.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Sergio Garcia of Spain reacts on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 9, 2026. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“I want to apologize for my actions on Sunday at The Masters tournament. I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to Golf. I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn’t reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world,” Garcia posted to X.

The apology comes after he was highly criticized for his actions, including an ESPN star calling for him to be banned from the tournament for his actions.

CALLAWAY LAUNCHES LIMITED-EDITION USA 250 GOLF COLLECTION HONORING AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Sergio Garcia of Spain finishes his first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP)

According to club officials Garcia was issued a code of conduct warning on the fourth tee by Geoff Yang, the chairman of the competitions committee. Garcia, who competes in LIV Golf, finished 8 over for the tournament, finishing 52nd out of 54 players who made the cut.

Since winning the Masters, Garcia has struggled mightily in majors. He has not finished in the top 10 in the 29 majors since winning at Augusta in 2017, and has missed the cut six of eight times since his victory.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sergio Garcia lines up a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on Apr. 9, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)

Garcia’s Masters blowup was not his first at a tournament, as he was disqualified at the Saudi International in 2019 for damaging greens.

Last year during the final round of the Open Championship, he snapped his driver after slamming it into the ground on the second hole, playing 16 holes without a driver.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz has seven fractures in his orbital area as well as a broken jaw after taking a foul ball to the face, but he remains in the dugout with his squad.

However, Albernaz has one big change to his daily routine over the next month or so. He needs to eat baby food.

The injury occurred on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the foul ball came whipping toward the Orioles’ dugout and hit Albernaz square on the right side of his face. But he was back at Camden Yards on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after suffering his multiple facial injuries.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz looks on before an MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field in Chicago, Ill., on April 8, 2026. (Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire)

Reports from Baltimore state that he has a visible bruise on the right side of his face, and that he will need to consume baby food for the next six weeks as his face heals.

“This is what we’re here for,” Albernaz said to reporters, per the Baltimore Banner. “We’re here for the players. We have a game. I’m physically able to be here, so let’s go.… If my jaw was wired shut, I’d still be here.”

ORIOLES MANAGER CRAIG ALBERNAZ TAKES LINE DRIVE TO FACE IN TERRIFYING SCENE

Albernaz said he felt “pretty good” considering the circumstances from Monday night’s foul ball off the bat of one of his own, Jeremiah Jackson.

“Ball hit me pretty flush in the cheek, but I feel good,” he added. “Luckily, no surgery. I think all in all, it was at least seven fractures in my cheek area, orbital, and then a broken jaw. But luckily, it doesn’t have to be wired. No surgery. I just have to eat baby food for six weeks.”

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz stands on the field before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on Apr. 10, 2026. (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)

Albernaz, like many managers, was standing at the top of the dugout steps when Jackson was late to a pitch that shot immediately toward his teammates and coaches. It’s an unfortunate situation for Albernaz, but the first-time MLB manager is clearly showing his grit and resilience for his squad.

They also showed it for him on Monday night, as they were trailing at that point in the game. However, the Orioles rallied to win the game 9-7.

A lot of that had to do with Jackson, who bashed two home runs, including a grand slam in the victory.

“I hit, and then I kind of saw Alby holding his face,” Jackson told reporters. “My heart kind of dropped. I was able to see him afterward and see he was doing OK.… Knowing he was OK helped. It made me feel a little bit better. I’m just happy he’s doing OK and in good spirits.”

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz talks to media in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago on April 8, 2026. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Orioles’ win keeps them tied with the New York Yankees atop the AL East standings at 9-7.

Albernaz will continue to lead the way in the dugout moving forward, even if his diet does have to change.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The newest member of the Indiana Fever, Raven Johnson, who the team took with the 10th overall pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday, will join forces with Caitlin Clark after a tensely competitive moment between the two many years ago.

In the 2023 NCAA women’s Final Four, Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes met Johnson’s South Carolina Gamecocks. During that game, there was a moment when Clark was supposed to be guarding Johnson, but Clark waved Johnson off to double-team another South Carolina player.

The clip of Clark waving off Johnson ended up going viral, and Johnson later said it resulted in online mockery against her.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball past South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson (25) in the finals of the Final Four of the women’s 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. (Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports)

“I was all over the internet,” Johnson said on the “I AM NEXT” podcast in March. “That’s one reason I hate the internet now, because of that situation. I got bashed, I got bullied, I got called all these things I wasn’t, aka like a monkey and things like that, and I just think I wanted to quit basketball at that time, and I just wanted to go in this little bubble of isolation and just be by myself.”

Still, Johnson appears excited to now be on the same side as Clark.

After Johnson was drafted by the Fever on Monday, she said Clark is the teammate she’s most excited to play with in the pros.

FEVER’S LEXIE HULL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACKS ON PLAYERS AS TEAM’S POPULARITY GROWS DURING CAITLIN CLARK ERA

Raven Johnson #25 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the first half during the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“Caitlin Clark,” Johnson said immediately when asked by Overtime WBB which new teammate she’s most excited to play with. “… She’s a phenomenal player, with the things she does, it’s bar standard. She can shoot the ball, she can lead a team, and they win. She has a winning mentality, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

The Fever have solidified their roster going into the 2026 season as a true championship contender.

The team recently re-signed key players Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham, while adding veteran Monique Billings in free agency.

The Fever have the fourth-best odds to win the WNBA title in 2026 behind the Minnesota Lynx, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives up court past South Carolina guard Raven Johnson, left, during the first half of the Final Four college basketball championship game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

The Fever’s season ended in 107-98 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals last year.

With Clark returning from injury, their core intact and at least one new addition, Indiana is looking to finish the job.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.