The dynamic duo of Tessa Johnson and Chloe Kitts may not be returning for their senior season after Kitts suffered a season-ending knee injury, which was caused by a torn ACL. South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley promised that her team will step up in the absence of one of their best rebounders, but the question is, who might be able to fill that void and also be able to pair up with Tessa Johnson?
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3 South Carolina Gamecocks Forwards Who Must Step Up After Chloe Kitts Injury
Adhel Tac
This red-shirt sophomore what it is like to miss an entire season due to injury as she had to sit out her entire freshman year after suffering a season-ending injury during her senior season at South Grand Prairie High School. Like Kitts, she is a known rebounding machine, but with her gone, Tac will have to double her efforts in grabbing boards.
She had been coming off the bench in all of her seasons since missing her true freshman year due to injury, and she may be up to the challenge of filling some big shoes over at Columbia.
Maryam Dauda
An Arkansas transfer, senior forward Maryam Dauda is another possible replacement, especially with her years of experience with the Razorbacks. She is the likeliest to fill Kitts’ starter position too, given her experience. At Arkansas, she is a known defensive specialist who can get things done on the boards but also be able to finish with a point.
While it is likely that she will be the one to step up for Kitts, she may have to start working with Tessa Johnson and build some chemistry with the guard, especially with Dawn Staley still aiming to win a national title.
Joyce Edwards
Dawn Staley had been grooming Joyce Edwards to be a star, and the sophomore forward will finally get her chance with this new season. She was expected to be South Carolina’s other starting forward for the 2025-2026 season, alongside Chloe Kitts, though Kitts’ injury may be a sign that the sophomore must step up even more.
Edwards was the best free throw shooter out of any freshman last season, as she had the highest free throw percentage of her class. She also had the most offensive rebounds in a game against an SEC opponent with 10 during that game against Vanderbilt last February.
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