March 27, 2026, 4:23 p.m. ET
- A quote from LSU coach Kim Mulkey about South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson has become a popular slogan on fan merchandise.
- During a game, Mulkey yelled “Who can guard Tessa?” after Johnson made several early 3-pointers.
- Fans and teammates, including Chloe Kitts, have worn shirts featuring the quote to show support.
- The shirts are sold through an NIL company, with proceeds going directly to Johnson.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — LSU coach Kim Mulkey thought she was asking her team a simple question, but it turned into something more for South Carolina women’s basketball guard Tessa Johnson.
On Feb. 14, Johnson hit four early 3-pointers in the 79-72 win over LSU, prompting Mulkey to scream “Who can guard Tessa?” at her players during a huddle. That clip circulated social media and since, fans have worn shirts to games with the quote.
Chloe Kitts, who tore her ACL in October, has even sported a version of the shirt on the bench.
“I appreciate the support … our teammates bring confidence to everyone else. You can see it on the bench. You can see even the coaching staff or just our staff in general, it’s just like a family kind of culture,” Johnson said ahead of the Sweet 16 game between No. 1 seed Gamecocks (33-3) and No. 4 Oklahoma (26-7) on March 28 ( 5 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“I feel like Chloe was wearing it to support me, and that just shows like a little bit of support that we all bring to each other.”
This is the third Women’s NCAA Tournament for Johnson, who has made it to the title game every year since coming to South Carolina.
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley is coaching her 12th straight Sweet 16 game, hoping for a sixth straight Elite Eight game.
Johnson is seventh in the nation in 3-point shooting at 44.5%, which is first in the SEC. She had 10 points in the second-round March Madness game, a 101-61 win over Southern Cal. She recorded her first career double-double in the first-round win over Southern.
Some fans have just worn a solid color shirt with the quote on it, others have worn shirts that included a picture. Kitts’ had a baby photo of Johnson on it, with the quote.
Johnson said for some type of media thing, the whole team needed to send in baby pictures and somehow that turned into a photo for the shirt.
“Then it just got out there,” Johnson said.
Joe Shepard, who works in NIL for the Gamecocks, posted the link to the shirt on social media. It’s made by Athletes Thread, a company who helps make custom merch to bring NIL money to college athletes. One shirt is $44 and the money will “support @tessajohnsonnnn directly.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
