The WNBA wrapped up its preseason over the weekend, and the regular season tips off on Friday, May 8. Although the preseason lasted only a couple of weeks, it gave all three of South Carolina's rookies in the Indiana Fever's Raven Johnson, the Atlanta Dream's Madina Okot and the L.A. Sparks' Ta'Niya Latson valuable playing experience at the next level.
Here's a look at how each rookie did in the preseason, and when to catch them playing next.
Raven Johnson
Raven Johnson is expected to come off the bench for Caitlin Clark in Indiana at the point guard spot. Her best game in the preseason came during the Fever's 105-57 win over the Nigeria National Team.
Johnson scored nine points, adding seven rebounds and an assist.
Raven Johnson is automatic 🫨
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 2, 2026
The rook drills the corner triple with no hesitation!
NGR-IND | Watch FREE on League Pass with WNBA ID: https://t.co/UpFwyQJqpu pic.twitter.com/2k60VehUoY
During Indiana's 95-80 loss to the Dallas Wings on April 30, Johnson had five assists with five steals in a little over 21 minutes. She finished with three points on the night. She even impressed her head coach with her play early in the league
“She’s a sponge,” Fever head coach Stephanie White said after the win. “She wants to learn. She wants to grow…She’s not afraid to ask questions. And I think her growth is going to come at a more rapid rate because of that…It’s a lot, and a lot comes at rookies fast in the W. I’m just pleased with how quickly she’s picking up things, and most importantly, how eager she is to learn and to grow.”
In her first preseason action against the New York Liberty on April 25, she finished with six points, eight assists and three rebounds in just 18 minutes of playing time. She shot 100% from the floor, not missing a shot all night.
- Next game: Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. ET vs. the Dallas Wings
Ta'Niya Latson
Los Angeles Sparks' Ta'Niya Latson played the most minutes (21:38) during the Sparks' 89-63 victory over Nigeria on April 25. She finished with seven points, five rebounds, six assists and a block. Her teammates were hyped when she scored her first WNBA buckets:
Ta’Niya Latson and her @LASparks teammates are hype as she scores her first bucket of the preseason 😤
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 25, 2026
NGR-LAS I Watch Free on League Pass with WNBA ID pic.twitter.com/M5b6pAWTya
During Los Angeles' 85-75 victory over the Portland Fire, Latson played 14:11 minutes, scoring seven points and adding two assists. She had a nice drive to the basket in the second quarter:
Next game: Sunday May 10 at 6 p.m. ET vs. Las Vegas Aces
Madina Okot
Madina Okot had a sensational WNBA debut in her first preseason game. Facing the Chicago Sky on the road in the preseason, Okot scored her first career double-double in her first game action for her new team. She finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds as her team won 87-78 on the road.
Rookie Madina Okot, the No. 13 pick in the #WNBADraft, made a statement in tonight’s @AtlantaDream win, recording a double-double in her preseason debut! 👏
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 30, 2026
14 PTS | 11 REB#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/sCActEAYOX
She even earned some high praise from her head coach, Karl Smesko
I asked @AtlantaDream HC Coach Smesko about his impressions of rookie center Madina Okot after her first preseason game. Okot finished with a double-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds in the #Dream 87-78 win vs. Sky:
— Wilton C. Jackson II (@WiltonReports) April 30, 2026
"I think she's a great talent. I think she's going to be really,… https://t.co/0cGQeUEmqS
During the Dream's second preseason game against the Washington Mystics, Okot finished with nine points, six rebounds and two blocks. Atlanta lost 83-72.
- Next game: Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET @ the Toronto Tempo
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