South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley confirmed the worst on Tuesday after revealing that Ashlyn Watkins tore her ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina’s pursuit of back-to-back NCAA women’s basketball championships has been dealt a sizable blow.

On Tuesday, Staley verified reports that star forward Ashlyn Watkins will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign after tearing her ACL during South Carolina’s 95-68 win over Mississippi State.

With just under eight minutes remaining in the second quarter of Sunday’s contest, Watkins drove hard into the paint before being fouled on a contested shot. The 21-year-old immediately crumpled to the hardwood and grabbed at her knee, which appeared to buckle when she attempted to spring off her leg.

Following several agonizing moments on the floor, Watkins was eventually helped to her feet by members of the training staff and escorted to the locker room. Speaking to reporters during a postgame press conference, Staley revealed that she received in-house treatment rather than heading straight to a local hospital.

While appearing on her Carolina Calls call-in show two days later, Staley confirmed the worst regarding Watkins’ health setback. “Not often that we’ve had injuries like this one. Unfortunately Ashlyn’s out for the rest of the season,” she said.

“I know her sisters will rally around her injury and know that she’ll be sorely missed. But I know Ashlyn would want us to go on and compete and try to win another national championship.”

Over 14 games this season – none of which she started – Watkins averaged 7.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a team-high 1.9 blocks. The 6-foot-3 junior has provided the Gamecocks with a much-needed spark off the bench, serving an integral role in Staley’s frontcourt rotation during the last three years.

The latest injury isn’t the first adversity that Watkins has had to overcome this season. Last November, she missed South Carolina’s season opener against Michigan after being suspended from all team activities.

Watkins was arrested on August 31 on charges of assault and kidnapping. These charges were later dismissed, allowing her to return to the Gamecocks.

“Ashlyn is back, we welcome her back, we are going to let her get acclimated to being back on the team and we look forward to having our entire team back,” Staley said ahead of Watkins’ season-debut against North Carolina State University on November 10 – during which she amassed six points, six rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes played.

“We are at our very best when we have our full roster, especially healthy, so it feels good, it feels natural, it doesn’t feel unnatural to us, it feels we’re complete now.”

In the absence of Watkins, Staley will likely turn to Sania Feagin, Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards – the only three forwards on South Carolina’s roster who’ve received quality playing time this season.