December 15, 2025: On Dec. 14, 2025, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley directs her team during the first half against Penn State at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. - ZUMAm67_ 20251215_zaf_m67_012 Copyright: xTracyxGlantzx
December 15, 2025: On Dec. 14, 2025, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley directs her team during the first half against Penn State at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. - ZUMAm67_ 20251215_zaf_m67_012 Copyright: xTracyxGlantzx
South Carolina women’s basketball team’s coach, Dawn Staley, saw two of her best front court players getting back into practice after a season out because of injury. The two forwards averaged more than 17 points and 14 rebounds per game together before getting injured.
In Columbia, South Carolina, during her Monday media availability, Staley talked about the forwards Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins returning.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Georgia at South Carolina Jan 11, 2026 Columbia, South Carolina, USA South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Columbia Colonial Life Arena South Carolina USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeffxBlakex 20260111_sns_ay3_00094
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Georgia at South Carolina Jan 11, 2026 Columbia, South Carolina, USA South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Georgia Bulldogs in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Columbia Colonial Life Arena South Carolina USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJeffxBlakex 20260111_sns_ay3_00094
"Everybody knows Chloe works her butt off, and we've seen her within the past year. We haven't seen Ash in a year and a half, and Ash looks great. She's calm, cool, collected, really knows what we want, and is poised enough to see a whole lot. She's scoring the basketball," Staley said.
Kitts suffered an ACL injury in October 2025 before the beginning of last season, while Watkins has been out of action since January 2025.
Prior to that, Kitts averaged a career-high 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Watkins posted 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Kitts expressed to reporters following South Carolina's first practice of the season, "I feel great. I don't have to wear the brace anymore. It's kind of if I want to. It's more of a comfort thing, but all of my numbers are good."
This means her comfort in not wearing the brace is a sign of true success, considering that recovery from an ACL injury usually takes nine to twelve months.
Kitts missed the entire season during 2025-26 because of a medical redshirt, but she could practice without any restriction in less than one year.
Apart from the frontcourt players, Staley also revealed the new recruits who are changing the face of the backcourt of South Carolina.
Dawn Staley praises new backcourt additions
Jordan Lee is a transfer from Texas, and she plays as a guard. She has impressed Staley through her practices for the Gamecocks. She was described by Staley as a player who is mature and does not require much to be done for her.
Staley said, "Jordan's doing great. Jordan is seasoned. She is really, really low maintenance, high performing. I like to describe people like that."
Staley also commended fifth-year point guard Brooke Quarles-Daniels, a Michigan transfer waiting for her eligibility to be sorted out in a few weeks.
Staley said, "She looks like you know what would be a fifth year. She understands it. This is probably her second week, and her team wins. Like whoever is on her team, they win. I like that. You can track winning, and she's a winner."
Now, with Lee providing some speed and Quarles-Daniels some experience, the Gamecocks’ backcourt should be ready to step up and fill the void left by Raven Johnson moving on to the WNBA.
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Written by
Utsav Gupta
Edited by
Utsav Gupta