South Carolina women's basketball: Dawn Staley provides update on Ashlyn Watkins

It has been nearly two months since South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins announced she will sit out the 2025-26 season. On Monday, Dawn Staley talked about Watkins’ decision for the first time. 

Watkins announced her decision on social media on July 25. She 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. 

“With everything that’s happened this year, I’m going to take some time off to focus on myself, my faith, and my family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master this journey of life,” Watkins said in an Instagram post.

“I’m so grateful for my coaches, the USC medical team, my teammates, and everyone who’s supported me along the way,” she continued. “For now, I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger in the 2026-27 season.”

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At the Final Four in April, Staley said that they hoped to have Watkins back on the court this summer, but that was overly optimistic. Watkins instead decided to withdraw from school and focus on her rehab. She is still in frequent contact with the team, and the goal remains to rejoin the team next season.

“Obviously, it’s hard,” Staley said. “Basketball’s a big part of what an athlete does. But the mental part of it, too, is draining. And if your mentals isn’t right, it’s going to have a compound effect. I think it’s pretty brave of her to be able to do something like this. I think she’ll come back. She’s rehabbing with us. As much as we can see her, we see her. I text her often, just to check up on her and everything’s going according to plan, and it’s what she needs at this time.” 

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. 

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