South Carolina confirmed that forward Chloe Kitts will miss the entire 2025–26 season after tearing her ACL in practice, a major setback for a Gamecock squad that expected her to play a key role on both ends. Kitts had started to emerge as a steady, versatile forward who could stretch the floor and defend multiple spots – the kind of glue player every championship contender needs.
With Ashlyn Watkins also sidelined by injury, Dawn Staley faces one of her toughest early tests in recent years. The frontcourt rotation will now lean heavily on Joyce Edwards, whose athleticism and defensive instincts make her a natural fit to step into larger minutes. Staley’s teams are built to withstand this kind of adversity, but replacing Kitts’ experience and balance will take time. The next few weeks will show how deep this year’s Gamecocks really are.
