South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins to miss rest of season

Ashlyn Watkins will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, South Carolina women’s basketball program announced Tuesday afternoon.

Watkins’ surgery will be scheduled in the coming weeks, the school said.

“Not often that we’ve had injuries like this one and unfortunately Ashlyn’s out for the rest of the season,” USC coach Dawn Staley said Tuesday night on her Carolina Calls call-in show. “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.”

The injury news is just the latest in a tumultuous year for Watkins. She missed the Gamecocks’ opener this season due to suspension after she was arrested on charges of first degree assault and battery and kidnapping in August, though those charges were eventually dismissed.

Watkins exited the Gamecocks’ 95-68 win over Mississippi State on Sunday in the second quarter after landing awkwardly on her knee. The junior was unable to leave the court under her own power and had to be helped to the locker room.

Staley did not have an update on Watkins’ status during the post-game press conference but did say she had not left the arena for medical attention.

Watkins averaged 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for South Carolina through 14 games this year.

“She’s an impact player on both sides of the ball. She’s a shot blocker, she deters shots. I mean, she could play in the paint, on the perimeter defensively,” Staley said of Watkins. “And then offensively, I think she was just coming into her own. I thought she was blossoming into being a junior the right way. Unfortunately, we’re going to see her have a super fantastic senior year.”

South Carolina’s depth in the post will certainly take a hit with Watkins’ absence. The Gamecocks have just three forwards with quality playing time under their belts this season in starters Sania Feagin and Chloe Kitts as well as freshman star Joyce Edwards off the bench.

Outside of those three, experience — in this season at least — is lacking. Center Sakima Walker has played in just six games this year and hasn’t touched the floor since late November. Forwards Adhel Tac and Maryam Dauda have both seen some run this year but average less than 10 minutes per game.

Walker and point guard Maddy McDaniel (concussion) might be making a return to the floor soon for South Carolina, Staley said, though a return is not set in stone.

“They were at practice and they were in some drills,” Staley said. “So they’re ramping up. I don’t know when their return will be, hopefully soon.”

The Gamecocks host Texas A&M at 5 p.m. on Thursday. After the Aggies, the Gamecocks begin five straight games against ranked opponents, beginning with No. 5 Texas on Sunday.