Gamecocks WBB star Ashlyn Watkins arrested on assault, kidnapping charges, warrant says
South Carolina women’s basketball player Ashlyn Watkins was arrested following an alleged assault Saturday, according to arrest warrants filed by the University of South Carolina Police Department.
When asked about Watkins’ status with the team, a spokesperson told The State they are aware of the situation and are continuing to gather information. As has been the case with previous USC student-athlete arrests, it’s likely Watkins’ arrest will result in an automatic suspension.
The incident occurred at 650 Lincoln St., a student housing center at the University of South Carolina, according to the arrest warrants. Watkins assaulted the victim by “forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her by her arms, and pushing her,” the warrant says.
Watkins also picked the victim up against her will and carried her away, the warrants said. Watkins “grabbed the victim’s head and forced her to walk down the hall, thus controlling her movement while preventing her from leaving.” That allegation led to an additional charge of kidnapping.
The warrant goes on to say that the victim eventually got away from Watkins and pulled the fire alarm. As a result police and fire personnel showed up and treated the victim for her injuries, which were not life-threatening.
The incident was caught on video surveillance, the warrants said, and Watkins confessed – though the warrant didn’t say what she said. The arrest was first reported by WLTX in Columbia.
No cameras were allowed during her bond hearing Saturday afternoon, but WLTX was present. WLTX reported that prosecutors said Watkins and the victim (who was referred to as a minor) knew each other.
Watkins’ attorney, Todd Rutherford, told WLTX Saturday night, “We believe once everybody has a full grasp of what happened, this will end up being a misunderstanding. What we know for certain is that Ashlyn did not assault anyone, and she did not kidnap anyone.”
WLTX reported that jail records showed Watkins was detained and granted a $30,000 personal recognizance bond. She was charged with kidnapping and first-degree assault and battery. By 4 p.m., she was no longer listed as a detainee on jail records.
University spokesman Jeff Stensland said that he could not discuss any additional details about the incident.
Conditions of the bond include having no contact with the victim and staying 1,000 yards away from the victim’s home, work, school and place of worship, according to online court records. Also listed as a condition is, “Permission to travel out of state for games and practice.”
Online court records say an initial court appearance for Watkins has been set for Oct. 25, 10 days before USC’s 2024-25 season opener against Michigan in Las Vegas on Nov. 4.
Watkins was a member of South Carolina’s 2024 national championship team. She is a junior forward and the Gamecocks’ most highly rated defensive player. Watkins attended Cardinal Newman for high school, where she won the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year Award in 2022. She also won the McDonald’s All-American dunk contest that year.
This story was originally published August 31, 2024 at 4:17 PM.
