Dawn Staley gives latest on Ashlyn Watkins, what’s ahead
South Carolina women’s basketball kicked off the 2025-26 season on Monday with its first official practice of the year.
All 11 Gamecocks were present and accounted for during the portion of practice media members were permitted to watch. That did not include Ashlyn Watkins.
Watkins’ absence wasn’t a surprise. She announced back in July she intended to take a year off from basketball and won’t play for the Gamecocks this season.
“I’m so grateful for my coaches, the USC medical team, my teammates, and everyone who’s supported me along the way,” Watkins said in a statement on social media. “For now, I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger in the 2026-27 season.”
As for what her time off actually looks like, Staley said Watkins is not currently enrolled in school but is rehabbing with the team. Watkins tore her ACL early in SEC play last season and missed the remainder of the year.
“I think she’ll come back,” Staley said Monday. “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.”
Staley and her team have publicly supported Watkins’ decision to sit out this year. In a statement from July, Staley said the Gamecocks will “be here when [Watkins] is ready to return.”
On Monday, Staley described Watkins as “brave” for taking time away from basketball.
“Obviously it’s hard because basketball is a big part of what an athlete does,” Staley said. “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.”
The 2024-25 season was tumultuous for Watkins. She was suspended from the Gamecocks’ opener as a result of an August arrest, though all charges were eventually dismissed. Watkins played 14 games before her ACL injury in January and was averaging 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.
At the Final Four in April, Staley said Watkins recovery was “going smoothly” and she was on pace for a return to doing on-court work in some capacity by mid- to late summer. Watkins then announced she was taking the year off on July 25.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM.
