Forward Ashlyn Watkins has been a player for head coach Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks for the past three seasons. However, this past season, she was limited to 14 games because of injuries. With very little news coming out about her in the offseason, there were rumors that she could be quitting basketball.
On Thursday, the “Quita Loves Sports” YouTube channel posted a video discussing various things about the Gamecocks. Halfway through the video, the host reads a fan question about whether Watkins is quitting basketball. She shuts that down quickly, stating that she will be back after this season once she is recovered from her ACL tear.
“No, she is not. If you all do not know, Ashlyn Watkins actually had an ACL tear during the year, and so she is out. She is not going to return to play next season. She’s going to return to basketball in 2026-2027,” Quita Loves Sports said (6:20).
“The best-case scenario was for her to try to be back at the end of this upcoming college season, but why do that? You might as well just wait a full year,” she added.
Ashlyn Watkins Posts About Her Recovery and Her Plans for the Next Year
After informing fans that Ashlyn Watkins is dealing with an ACL tear, Quita Loves Sports directed fans to her Instagram. In late July, Watkins shared a post, talking about her struggles and plans for the next year.
“With everything that’s happened this year, I’m going to take some time off to focus on myself, my community, my faith, and my family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master this journey of life,” Ashlyn Watkins wrote.
Watkins continued by thanking her coaches, medial team and teammates for their support. She expressed her desire to work hard and make a stronger comeback in the 2026-27 season.
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Ashlyn Watkins’ best season with the Gamecocks came in her sophomore year. In 38 games, 10 of which she started, she averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.
While it is disappointing for Dawn Staley’s squad that they will be without Watkins, they should still be a national championship contender next season. They reached the final last year while Watkins was out with her injury.
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