As if the injuries South Carolina has dealt with this season weren’t already enough, the Gamecocks were hit with another blow just hours before tipoff against Missouri. Starting guard Tessa Johnson was suddenly ruled out on the SEC injury report. Here’s everything we know so far about her surprising injury.

Johnson did not appear on the initial injury report published on February 25, but it has since been confirmed by the program’s social media handle that she is dealing with an upper-body contusion.

As of now, head coach Dawn Staley has not shared any updates on her recovery timeline.

So far this season, Tessa Johnson has started 28 games, missing just one game due to illness. She’s averaging 13.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Gamecocks while also leading the SEC in three-point shooting at 45.5%. To truly understand how big a loss she is, we need to rewind back to that LSU game. Johnson showed flashes of Caitlin Clark during that game, scoring 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting while also knocking down 4 three pointers.

Her performance was so impressive that it even had coach Kim Mulkey searching for answers. A clip from the game went viral showing Mulkey visibly frustrated during a timeout as she turned to her players and demanded, “Who can guard Tessa?” That is the kind of player the Gamecocks were going to miss against Missouri.

Johnson’s three-point shooting leap in her junior year has been commendable. She’s knocked down 71 threes so far, which is twice her freshman total and 25 more than what she made last year. The Albertville, Minnesota native has also been remarkably efficient, currently ranking No. 8 in the country.

When asked what contributed to the change, the guard had a very simple answer. “I really focused a lot on my body because my freshman and sophomore years, I didn’t really care what anyone was saying about like gaining weight, losing weight, gaining muscle, all this stuff,” Johnson said in an interview with IX Basketball. “It was just like, ‘OK, yeah, I hear you. I need to eat more, but I’m still able to play, so whatever.’”

She continued, “I really tried to focus on that, and I’ve seen and felt a difference on the court. I feel like I really was intentional with just off the court stuff. Sometimes I slack, but I’m able to see a difference now.” That dedication has translated into a breakout season, and coach Staley revealed on senior night that Johnson is likely to return next year. This particular news would certainly delight the Gamecocks faithful.

Injuries have plagued Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks from the very start of the season. It began with Chloe Kitts going down with an ACL injury and Ashlyn Watkins opting to take a year off. But the absences haven’t been limited to just them. Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer have also spent time on the sidelines, and now Johnson joins the ever-growing injury list within the program.

Who replaces Tessa Johnson in the lineup?

This was perhaps the biggest question every Gamecocks fan had heading into the matchup against the Missouri Tigers. They got their answer when coach Staley announced her starting five, with Agot Makeer returning to the lineup. From there, it was business as usual for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks breezed past the Tigers, cruising to a comfortable 112-71 win. Freshman guard Agot Makeer logged 21 minutes but struggled to make an impact, scoring just four points on 1-7 shooting. But coach Staley had little to worry about as Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot combined for 49 points and sealed the victory for them.

Having already sealed the SEC regular-season championship, the Gamecocks don’t have much left to play for until the SEC Tournament begins. They have one game remaining against the Kentucky Wildcats before the regular season ends, and we wouldn’t be surprised if a few lineup rotations are made to keep players fresh and healthy ahead of the tournament.

That said, Dawn Staley will still be waiting anxiously for an update on Tessa Johnson. Three-point shooting isn’t something this team has in abundance, and that was evident against Missouri, where they shot just 28% from beyond the arc. So prayers up for Johnson. We hope she makes a quick recovery. Expect an update when coach Staley addresses the media later this evening.