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South Carolina women's basketball is playing in the Final Four once again, and this year's team is missing one of the Gamecocks' stars from the past three seasons.
The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (35-3) are facing No. 1 overall seed UConn (38-0) in the Final Four at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
As it has been for the entire season, South Carolina will be without senior forward Ashlyn Watkins, who spent the past three years of her career with the Gamecocks.
Watkins is not playing in the Final Four, and hasn't played all season, because she chose to step away from the team in July. She made the decision in order 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," according to a statement on social media.
Watkins is also recovering from a torn ACL. She suffered the injury on Jan. 5, 2025, against Mississippi State and had surgery on Jan. 31, 2025.
She was not included on the Gamecocks' roster for this season and was not enrolled at the school, according to coach Dawn Staley on Sept. 22. However, she did continue to rehab her injury with the team's medical staff. She is expected to return for the 2026-27 season.
Watkins' height is listed as 6-foot-3 on South Carolina's 2024-25 season roster.
Yes, Watkins can dunk. She is the first South Carolina player to dunk in a game and has dunked once every season of her career. She also won the 2022 McDonald's All-American dunk contest.
Her first dunk came against Clemson on Nov. 17, 2022. The first time she dunked in Colonial Life Arena was on Jan. 15, 2024, against Kentucky. Against TCU on Dec. 8, 2024, she scored on a contested dunk for the first time.
In 84 career games for South Carolina, Watkins has averaged 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. She has shot 54.7% from the field and is 1-for-6 on 3-pointers.
Her best season was in 2023-24 when she averaged career-highs in points (9.2), rebounds (7.4) and blocks (2.4). Her 91 blocked shots were the third-most in a single season in program history. In 2024, she was named to the All-SEC second team.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What happened to Ashlyn Watkins, South Carolina player who can dunk?
Continue reading...
The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (35-3) are facing No. 1 overall seed UConn (38-0) in the Final Four at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
As it has been for the entire season, South Carolina will be without senior forward Ashlyn Watkins, who spent the past three years of her career with the Gamecocks.
Why isn't Ashlyn Watkins playing in the Final Four?
Watkins is not playing in the Final Four, and hasn't played all season, because she chose to step away from the team in July. She made the decision in order 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," according to a statement on social media.
Watkins is also recovering from a torn ACL. She suffered the injury on Jan. 5, 2025, against Mississippi State and had surgery on Jan. 31, 2025.
She was not included on the Gamecocks' roster for this season and was not enrolled at the school, according to coach Dawn Staley on Sept. 22. However, she did continue to rehab her injury with the team's medical staff. She is expected to return for the 2026-27 season.
What is Ashlyn Watkins height?
Watkins' height is listed as 6-foot-3 on South Carolina's 2024-25 season roster.
Can Ashlyn Watkins dunk?
Yes, Watkins can dunk. She is the first South Carolina player to dunk in a game and has dunked once every season of her career. She also won the 2022 McDonald's All-American dunk contest.
Her first dunk came against Clemson on Nov. 17, 2022. The first time she dunked in Colonial Life Arena was on Jan. 15, 2024, against Kentucky. Against TCU on Dec. 8, 2024, she scored on a contested dunk for the first time.
Ashlyn Watkins stats
In 84 career games for South Carolina, Watkins has averaged 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. She has shot 54.7% from the field and is 1-for-6 on 3-pointers.
Her best season was in 2023-24 when she averaged career-highs in points (9.2), rebounds (7.4) and blocks (2.4). Her 91 blocked shots were the third-most in a single season in program history. In 2024, she was named to the All-SEC second team.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What happened to Ashlyn Watkins, South Carolina player who can dunk?
Continue reading...
