The No. 3-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks entered their latest game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs already short-handed, with Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer ruled out of the game. But what quickly caught everyone’s attention was starting guard Tessa Johnson, who never returned to the floor in the third quarter of the game.

While it’s still not confirmed what led her to leave the court, as per reports, for the first five minutes of the third quarter, the 6-foot guard remained on the exercise bike behind the bench before returning to her teammates. She was seen wearing a wrap around her lower torso area. However, the positive sign was that she moved comfortably, getting up to high-five teammates without any visible limitation.

The situation sparked concern among Gamecock Nation, with fans hoping, praying, and sharing on social media that it wasn’t serious. Dawn Staley tried to ease worries but didn’t specify exactly what was wrong.

Speaking to the media after the game, the head coach addressed the situation and downplayed any serious concern, explaining that Johnson was held out as a precaution. “She’s just banged up,” Staley said. “We afforded ourselves to get a big lead and not (having to) put her in a situation where she could hurt herself more. She’s just a little sore, so we opted to keep her out and get her ready for the Tennessee game.”

In the game, Tessa Johnson took just five shots in the first half, where she only made one, while sophomore Joyce Edwards carried the offense. But this doesn’t mean that Johnson hasn’t been a assest for the Gamecocks throughout the 2025-26 NCAA season.

With her fast-paced playing style and impressive shooting, Johnson is having the best season of her career, currently averaging 14.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Her stats have helped her rank third on the team in scoring, while leading South Carolina in three-point shooting at an efficient 45.9 percent. Just a few days ago, she poured in 19 points against Texas A&M and was big in SC’s win over Vanderbilt.

So with a critical stretch of SEC play ahead, Staley’s decision to sit her late against Mississippi State appears rooted more in long-term readiness than any immediate concern.

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For now, this game is just another win in their bag as the season continues to move forward.

What’s next for Tessa Johnson and the Gamecocks?

After this 43 points win over the Bulldogs, the Gamecocks now sit at 23-2 overall and 9-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

In this game, Edwards led the charge with 21 points. But that’s not all. Doing so, she surpassed 1,000 career points to become just the third player in program history to achieve the feat during her sophomore season, joining program legends Shelia Foster and A’ja Wilson.

Moreover, freshman Ayla McDowell made the most of her first career start, knocking down four three-pointers on her way to 16 points. Madina Okot continued her consistent interior presence, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds to record her 14th double-double of the season. And this is exactly the kind of balance that allowed them to dominate, even while short-handed.

For their next game, the Gamecocks will play against the No. 19 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on February 8th. A game ESPN predicts to be in their favor with an 89% chance. Following that, they will lock horns with:

• The No. 5 LSU Tigers on February 14th.
• The No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide on February 19th.
• The No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels on February 22nd.

So, with tough games up next, and only six games remaining before the regular season is over, South Carolina will need its full roster available as the margin for error tightens against a stretch of ranked opponents. For now, though, fans can afford to feel encouraged, as Tessa Johnson’s absence in the second half appeared to be a precaution rather than a setback.