Turbulent times continue chasing South Carolina Gamecocks’ star, Ashlyn Watkins, as she seems to have woken up on the wrong side of her career this year. What seems even more gruelling is that trouble keeps following her more times than you think. The incidents following last year’s felony have been hugely impacting the team and the top performer.
What went wrong with Ashlyn Watkins?
Ashlyn walked boldly on the scene in 2023 and blazed her way into the team with a whopping average of 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. In addition, she dropped a 11/11 double-double within 21 minutes against the Missouri Tigers just 3 days before her January 2025 injury.
After suffering an ACL tear during a crucial second quarter against Mississippi State, the junior forward had to sit out for the remaining season. The Gamecocks felt the pangs of losing a strong player. Banking on Watkins’ rebounding, shot-blocking and dominating defences, the team lost a strong player.
If this wasn’t enough, Gamecocks’ HC Dawn Staley crushed any remaining hopes that fans and analysts had regarding Watkins’ magical reappearance in the finals. While Staley affirmed her recovery process and claimed that the top player is off the crutches, she also said that there is a long way to go before Watkins gains her health back.
What’s next for injured Gamecock Ashlyn Watkins? Dawn Staley updates status https://t.co/9yJcNgKpcY
— GoGamecocks (@gogamecocks) April 6, 2025
Hinting at Watkins’ likely return by next season, the coach said on Saturday, “Her journey back will probably get her back into a real flow.” A painstakingly long time before we see the 5-star recruit on court again!
Will South Carolina go forward without Watkins?
Unfortunately, the team will go on without Watkins. But they are all praise for the defence specialist. Staley confessed how much she and the team misses the strong rebounder. She feels that South Carolina managing to reach the Final Four of 2024-25 season without one of its best players is a huge feat. In fact, none would like to acknowledge that Watkins was not physically involved in making this possible.
But for Staley, coming so far in the competition and securing a position in the final four without Watkins is a celebratory moment. Even if they do not explicitly boast it. “We’re a program that when we sustain a loss like that, we’re not hung up on that…because there’s nothing that we can do about it. The fact we’re here without her is quite an incredible feat that is probably not talked about a whole lot—because we don’t talk about it a whole lot,” she said.
Ashlyn Watkins accepts her fate
Nothing is more hurtful than watching your team perform from a third-person perspective. Watkins witnessed her team play 14 matches before they progressed to the finals. Despite the knee surgery, she ensured attendance at all practice sessions, even accompanying teammates to Birmingham and Tampa.
Well, every cloud has a silver lining. The fierce star verbally assists and uplifts her teammates from the bench. From before-match guidance to downright directing across the court, Watkins knows how to make her presence felt. This has also helped the South Carolina team rebuild their confidence in a big way.
“I remember her screaming at Joyce (Edwards) one time like, ‘Joyce, you need to pick it up!’… When Ash first got here, she was as quiet as a mouse. She wouldn’t say anything to nobody. So she’s really developed,” Raven Johnson said about Watkins.
Will the forward player receive a medical redshirt waiver for the season? Or would she climb back into her old resilient vigour and end the season on a personal high? It remains to be seen. As of today, she is sitting out the 2025 NCAA tournament finals.
The post Ashlyn Watkins Injury Update: Why Is Dawn Staley’s Top Star Not Playing South Carolina’s 2025 NCAA Tournament Final? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
