The Glass Ceiling Shatters: South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts Out for the Season with Torn ACL
Just as the nation was resetting its women’s college basketball rankings, South Carolina was dealt a severe blow: senior starting forward Chloe Kitts will miss the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn ACL in her right knee. Kitts is scheduled for surgery this week, confirming a nightmare scenario for Coach Dawn Staley’s program.
Kitts’ absence is seismic, especially considering she’s the second key Gamecock forward to miss the year, following Ashlyn Watkins' earlier decision to redshirt for the season.
The Missing Piece of the Championship Puzzle
Kitts, a 6-foot-2 forward, was not just a starter; she was a champion and a leader. She started 38 games last season, posting impressive averages of 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds. Her crowning achievement was being named the MVP of the SEC Tournament and the Birmingham 2 Regional, cementing her status as a high-impact player heading into her final year.
Her versatility and defensive tenacity were instrumental in the Gamecocks winning the 2024 national championship and returning to the title game against UConn last April.
Coach Dawn Staley acknowledged the massive loss while focusing on the team's resilience: "We hate this first for Chloe, who has worked incredibly hard to become the best version of herself on the court this season," Staley said. "Her teammates are capable of stepping up, and I know that her competitive fire and tenacity will be felt from the sidelines."
Trusting the Timing, Eyeing the Future
Despite the brutal timing—it was supposed to be her senior season and a chance to solidify her first-round WNBA Draft stock—Kitts handled the announcement with veteran maturity.
"While this isn’t how I hoped my senior season would go, I’m trusting God’s timing and purpose," Kitts wrote on social media. "I’ll continue to lead, support, and push my team from the sidelines. We have big things ahead!"
Kitts now faces a pivotal decision: she can utilize a medical redshirt and return to South Carolina for a final season after recovering, or she can enter the WNBA Draft next spring, hoping teams view her as a high-upside investment despite the injury. Either way, the Gamecocks lose a key, proven frontcourt star and face a massive challenge in managing their interior depth without both Kitts and Watkins.
With both Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins out, how much does the Gamecocks’ outlook change this season? Do they drop out of contention for the SEC title entirely?
