South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley gave a straightforward answer when asked if sophomore guard Tessa Johnson would be back for the game against Clemson on Wednesday night.

Staley simply turned to Johnson and asked, “Tessa, what’s your status for tomorrow?”

Without hesitation, Johnson, who had been out with an ankle injury for the last two games, confidently responded, “I’m playing.”

With that, Staley turned back to reporters, shrugged with a smile and said, “There you go.”

Johnson injured her ankle during a win over N.C. State on November 10. Before that, she had put up 15 points in South Carolina’s season opener, a 68-62 win over Michigan on November 4.

The 6-foot guard from Albertville, Minnesota, played a key role last season, leading the Gamecocks with 19 points in their 87-75 victory over Iowa in the NCAA Tournament championship game last April.