How new coach Ashley Chastain built USC softball’s roster ahead of first year
A deep love for South Carolina softball is the common thread that binds every player who dons the garnet and black.
For new head coach Ashley Chastain, who once wore that jersey herself, it’s not just a sentiment. It’s the foundation upon which she’s building her program.
Chastain isn’t just assembling a roster of talented athletes. She’s building a culture — one rooted in passion, connection and an unshakable commitment to the Gamecocks.
“We put together a roster back in the summer that we felt like would be really good for year one,” Chastain said. “People that are passionate about this place. This is my home. This is where I grew up as a young woman, and I’m just really passionate about the brand. So that really resonates for me.”
Chastain’s belief is simple: The best teams she’s coached have shared deep trust, accountability, vulnerability and open communication. Success on the field starts with relationships off it. This fall, the Gamecocks focused on building those bonds, shaping a team identity that feels authentic.
It’s something they’ve had to create themselves, something the coaching staff can’t manufacture. In recent weeks as the Gamecocks ramp up for the 2025 season, Chastain has seen her players embrace the process.
“You can feel the chemistry on the field,” Chastain said. “You can feel their excitement in the locker room, just how excited they are to be at the ballpark every day.”
Lots of new faces
South Carolina softball has cycled through multiple identities this preseason — that’s expected for a team with so many fresh faces. The Gamecocks added nine transfers (including six from Charlotte) and six freshmen, leaving just six returners from last year’s 36-24 squad (8-16 SEC).
“Every team is very different, whether you’re in the same place or you change environments,” Chastain said. “For us, this was a new environment for a lot of people in the program.”
For the former Charlotte players, friendships played a big role in their decision to follow Chastain to USC. But early on, they carried an unwanted label — “the Charlotte transfers,” junior Arianna Rodi told GamecocksOnline.
The biggest breakthrough came when they shed that tag, Rodi said. Now, the focus is singular: Win the Southeastern Conference championship and reach the Women’s College World Series.
That’s a tall order in a stacked SEC that just added four-time defending national champion Oklahoma and 2024 runner-up Texas. At minimum, the Gamecocks aim to crack the top half of the conference this year.
“The biggest thing is just getting to know one another,” said Sam Gress, one of the transfers from Charlotte. “We have so many girls coming from different backgrounds, different experiences, different teams, and I think that was the biggest challenge in the fall — just building those relationships and building those connections. But it’s been really special to see that process and just to see where we’re at right now.”
Putting together the pieces
The biggest questions about South Carolina’s roster revolve around pitching depth and offensive consistency, Chastain said.
The Gamecocks have five pitchers on the roster. It’s not as deep a staff as Chastain would like, but she sees an advantage. She plans to spread the workload, making opponents prepare for all five arms.
“We all bring something special to the table, and something that’s going to contribute to what we’re trying to accomplish as a team,” Gress said. “So it takes some of the pressure off, just knowing that between the five of us, anybody can go out there and get the job done. It’s really special.”
Offensively, there’s uncertainty, but Chastain is counting on her veterans to set the tone while allowing the lineup to evolve naturally.
“I think we will really feel that out as we get going through February,” Chastain said. “Just learn, and let them trust themselves in certain situations.”
Building for the future
As Chastain shapes the program in her image, she’s not just looking for talent — she wants players fully invested in South Carolina for the long haul.
“I want players that want to be here for their whole career,” Chastain said. “That’s something that I think we want to focus on moving forward: players that are committed to what we’re doing over time. It’s really important.”
That commitment starts with the culture she’s creating. More than facilities, rankings or playing time, Chastain wants recruits to feel what it means to be a Gamecock.
“You want to instill that feeling in everyone that walks through your door, so they leave Columbia feeling like, ‘Man, I want to be a part of that,’ ” Chastain said. “It’s like an emotion. It’s a feeling attached to the people that they spend time with. Then, one day we look up years later, and we’ve won championships.”
South Carolina softball schedule
The team hosts the 2025 Gamecock Invitational at the Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
- Feb. 6 vs. Virginia, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 7 vs. Virginia, 2:30 p.m.
- Feb. 8 vs. Providence, 3:30 p.m.
- Feb. 8 vs. St. Francis, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 9 vs. East Carolina, 3 p.m.
List of Gamecock transfers in 2025
- Sophomore pitcher Kadie Becker (Charlotte)
- Senior infielder Ella Chancey (Charlotte)
- Senior pitcher Sam Gress (Charlotte)
- Senior outfielder Abigail Knight (Charlotte)
- Sophomore pitcher Nealy Lamb (Charleston Southern)
- Redshirt junior utility Quincee Lilio (Oklahoma)
- Junior infielder Arianna Rodi (Charlotte)
- Senor outfielder Emily Vinson (Longwood)
- Junior catcher Lexi Winters (Charlotte)
