South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley offered a cautious but encouraging update on starting guard Tessa Johnson, who was back on the practice floor February 27th following her absence during the Gamecocks’ dominant victory over Missouri.
Johnson sat out after being listed on the SEC injury report with what the program described as an upper body contusion, but her return to practice signals potential availability for the team’s regular season finale.
The Kentucky Test
The No. 3 Gamecocks (28-2, 14-1 SEC) travel to face No. 18 Kentucky (21-8, 8-7 SEC) on March 1st at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network. When reporters pressed Staley on whether Johnson would be cleared for the road trip, the coach stayed tight-lipped — though she confirmed the updated SEC injury report, due February 28th, would provide clarity.
In typical Staley fashion, she acknowledged with humor that the media would quickly report Johnson’s presence among the starters in practice, signaling she had no intention of obscuring the situation.
Why Johnson’s Return Matters
Johnson’s impact on South Carolina’s offense is difficult to overstate. The junior guard is averaging 13.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while leading the SEC in three-point shooting at 45.5% — a mark that also ranks eighth nationally. Her ability to stretch defenses creates critical paint opportunities for teammates like Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.
Her recent form has been inconsistent, however. After a scorching performance against LSU where she shot 8-of-13 for 21 points, Johnson managed just six points on 2-of-13 shooting across her next two games against Alabama and Ole Miss.
A Tough Matchup Awaits
Kentucky presents a stern challenge regardless of Johnson’s availability. The Wildcats feature guard Tonie Morgan, who dishes out a nation-leading 8.3 assists per game while contributing 14.4 points, alongside 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack, who averages a double-double with 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.
Against Missouri, Raven Johnson and Maddy McDaniel helped compensate offensively — hitting four and two three-pointers respectively — but Tessa Johnson’s floor-spacing presence remains a different kind of weapon that is hard to replicate.
Additional Injury News
Staley also noted that sophomore post player Adhel Tac remains day-to-day with a lower leg injury. Tac has not seen game action since February 5th and continues to use a medical scooter, sitting out practices entirely for now.
With the SEC Tournament on the horizon, getting key pieces healthy will be just as important as closing out the regular season on a strong note.
