Indiana Fever rookie Raven Johnson spent her college career at South Carolina under Dawn Staley, where she learned lessons that have stayed with her beyond her time with the Gamecocks. Johnson left Columbia with two national championships and plenty of memories, but it was Staley’s emphasis on discipline and consistency that made perhaps the biggest impression.
“Honestly, it’s the best. She gets this pro mindset, or she always say, ‘Have pro habits.’ That’s the biggest thing with her – having pro habits – and I think I carry that with me to this day, not just on the court but off the court,” Johnson said while reflecting on playing under Staley during her recent appearance on Post Moves. “Like you have to come in with a standard, and you have to have high expectations for yourself because when you don’t have expectations for yourself, then you start having bad habits, and she always says bad habits are contagious.”
“So, I think I carry that with me to this day. And it’s just a mindset. You just have to have this mindset even when things are not going your way or when things are going your way. And she does say they’re contagious, and they’re very contagious – good habits and bad habits – they’re very contagious,” she added…