Basketball
South Carolina’s women’s basketball team will head into this season without one of its key players.
Ashlyn Watkins announced on Instagram that she is “going to take some time off” and will be back for the 2026-27 season. While Watkins didn’t play much last season — missing time because of a suspension and then suffering a season-ending injury — she was a crucial part of the Gamecocks’ 2024 national championship team, averaging 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game as a sophomore.
Watkins wrote in her social media post on Friday: “As most of you know, this past year has been a roller coaster for me. I usually like to keep my personal life private, but every time I step out into the community, I realize I’m not alone in this journey. So many of you have shown me love and encouragement, and because of that, I feel like l owe you a little insight into what’s been going on… I’m so grateful for my coaches, the USC medical team, my teammates, and everyone who’s supported me along the way. For now, I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger in the 2026-27 season.”
After a standout performance in the 2024 national semifinals where she had eight points and 20 rebounds against N.C. State, Watkins seemed poised for a bigger role with the Gamecocks as a junior, especially since Kamilla Cardoso had graduated and was off in the WNBA. But that promising outlook quickly turned tumultuous after she was arrested late last August and charged with assault and battery in the first degree and kidnapping.
Watkins was suspended from the team, but reinstated after completing a pre-trial intervention program. The charges were dropped in early November and Watkins missed just one game.
Her season seemed to be back on track after that incident. The 6-foot-3 Watkins threw down a fast-break dunk for the Gamecocks in a win over TCU, showing off some of the athleticism that helped her rank fifth in the nation in blocked shots as a sophomore. Watkins is the owner of the only two dunks in the history of South Carolina women’s basketball.
Then on Jan. 5 against Mississippi State, Watkins’ junior season ended when she tore her ACL. While the Gamecocks made the national championship game without her, Watkins’ versatility and knack for rebounding and protecting the rim were missed at times. Before her injury, Watkins averaged 7.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game across 14 contests.
In a statement to the Greenville News, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said, “We will support Ashlyn as she works through getting her body and mind stronger; and we will be here when she is ready to return.”
From a pure basketball perspective, the good news for South Carolina is that they return Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards — both of whom garnered All-American honorable mention nods last season — in the front court, and also added 6-foot-6 Madina Okot in the transfer portal from Mississippi State. Okot nearly averaged a double-double, 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, last season in her first year in the SEC.
Whenever she returns to the court, Watkins will have at least one year of eligibility remaining.
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