Tessa Johnson has become one of South Carolina Women’s Basketball’s most important players, playing a central role in the team’s national championship run on April 7, 2024. She finished the title game against Iowa with a team-high 19 points, helping South Carolina to an 87-75 victory.
Her rise continued the momentum from her high school days at St. Michael-Albertville, where she captured the Miss Basketball Award in 2023 and led her team to a state title.
Under Coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina relied on its depth and collective play; the squad’s ability to rebound from a first-quarter deficit was a key factor in clinching the championship.
The standout performance drew attention from the wider sports world — LeBron James tweeted, “Tessa Johnson cooking!”
Fellow collegiate star Raven Johnson also praised her, telling USA Today, “I’m going to give Tessa Johnson her flowers.” “She’s always ready for the moments.”
Her father is a devoted sports fan who played an important role in shaping her athletic path. Learn more about Tessa’s parents and ethnic background here!
Player Overview
| Hometown / Origin | Albertville, Minnesota, United States |
| Stature | 6ft (1.82m) |
| Playing Position | Guard |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| High School Honors | McDonald’s All-America, All-USA TODAY Team, and WBCA Honorable Mention All-America |
Tessa Johnson’s Biracial Background
Her parents are Danielle (mother) and Jemel Johnson (father); Danielle is white and Jemel is Afro-American.
Though her family usually keeps a low profile, after Tessa’s national championship win her sister Claudia shared a few rare family photos on Instagram.
Her Father Jamel Coached and Raised Her in the Game
Tessa’s recent emergence on the court is closely tied to her father, Jamel, who not only raised her but also served as a basketball coach. He introduced his children to the game by teaching the fundamental skill of shooting.
He concentrated on making the gym a familiar place for them before progressing to finer points of technique. Jamel favors a learning style rooted in natural movement, believing that athletes develop best when they play instinctively rather than under rigid, prescriptive training. He told Post and Courier,
I like to study things that I’m doing, to get better at them. I’m in the field of natural. It resorts to everything in life, especially sports. Kids are always better when they do things naturally, rather than if somebody trained them.
He continued, “They do what they feel, and your job is to teach them how to do it better.”
No gallery found for this URL.Athletics Run in the Family: Two of Johnson’s Siblings Are Competitors
Tessa is one of five children: her sisters are Rae, Olivia and Claudia, and her brother is Jeremiah Johnson.
Her brother Jeremiah currently suits up for St Michael-Albertville Public’s basketball team, the same school where Tessa and Rae played.
Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, Rae enjoyed a highly successful high school run at St. Michael, where she was widely recognized for her play and was even a finalist for Minnesota’s Miss Basketball. Her high school achievements are documented on the Iowa State roster.
Rae continued her basketball career at Iowa State. She made an immediate contribution in the 2017–18 season, appearing in all 31 games and recording a career-high 14 points in the Cyclones’ matchup with UC Riverside.
During the 2019–20 campaign she averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Off the court, Rae celebrates her birthday on August 2 and pursued a degree in communication studies.
