South Carolina women's basketball: Breaking down the impact of Ashlyn Watkins' absence
On Friday, forward Ashlyn Watkins announced that she will be sitting out the 2025-26 season. How does her decision affect South Carolina’s frontcourt rotation?
Watkins would have been a senior next season. Her junior season was cut short when she tore her ACL against Mississippi State on January 5. Watkins also missed the first game of the season while she was suspended following an offseason arrest.
She cited the cumulative effect in her decision to sit out next season.
Watkins averaged 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 14 games last season. In 2024, she averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and a team-best 2.4 blocks. She earned second-team All-SEC honors and set a school record when she grabbed 20 rebounds in the Final Four against NC State.
At 6-3, Watkins is the only player in program history to dunk in a game, something she has done four times. She was South Carolina’s best defender during the undefeated 2023-24 season, and the Gamecocks sorely missed her rebounding and rim protection last season.
South Carolina won’t be able to replace Watkins’ defense or athleticism, but the timing of the announcement could be a silver lining for the Gamecocks.
Watkins had surgery in late January. The shortest recovery time for ACL surgery is usually nine months. Even if she made a fast recovery, the nine-month period would end just as the season begins.
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Earlier this offseason, South Carolina added 6-6 Madina Okot in the transfer portal. Okot has only been playing basketball for five years, but averaged a near double-double for Mississippi State last season.
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6-4 Maryam Dauda and 6-6 Adhel Tac struggled last year in their first seasons with the Gamecocks, but both are expected to play bigger roles next season. Two years ago, Dauda led the SEC in blocks during the conference season, and she has three-point range. Tac is a strong rebounder who flashed potential as a finisher at the rim.
Leading the group are Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards. Both earned All-American honors last season. Edwards was also first team All-SEC, and Kitts was South Carolina’s best player over the SEC Tournament MVP and Birmingham Regional MVP.
That’s a lot of talent competing for playing time – basically six players for two positions. Trying to work a recovering Watkins into the rotation during the season would have made it even more difficult.
Now, the Gamecocks have the next three months to prepare for the season with the other five players. They can figure out a rotation and matchups without the uncertainty of Watkins’ knee hanging over things.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, South Carolina will lose seniors Kitts and Okot. Welcoming a fully healthy Watkins back into the fold will go a long way towards replacing them.
