South Carolina’s women’s basketball team is confronting a tough challenge as it prepares for its third consecutive NCAA National Championship run.
The program confirmed that star forward Chloe Kitts will miss the entire season after suffering a serious knee injury.
Season-Ending ACL Injury for Chloe Kitts
On Monday, the Gamecocks announced that Kitts tore the ACL in her right knee during a recent team practice.
Surgery is scheduled for later this week, less than a month before the team kicks off its season on November 3.
Kitts addressed the news on X, writing, “I recently suffered a torn ACL and, unfortunately, will be out for the season.
While this isn’t how I hoped my season would go, I’m trusting God’s timing and purpose.
I’ll continue to lead, support, and push my teammates from the sidelines. We have big things ahead!”
Kitts’ Impact on the Court
A two-year starter, Kitts has been a cornerstone for South Carolina.
She was last season’s Southeastern Conference Tournament MVP and earned MVP honors at the NCAA Binghamton Regionals.
Last year, Kitts started all 38 games, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, helping the Gamecocks reach the March Madness final before falling to UConn, 82-59.
She was also pivotal in South Carolina’s 2024 national championship victory, recording an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in just 17 minutes against Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
Coach and Team React
Coach Dawn Staley expressed her support for Kitts, stating, “We hate this for Chloe, who has worked incredibly hard to become the best version of herself on the court this season.
Her teammates are capable of stepping up, and I know that her competitive fire and tenacity will be felt from the sidelines as she pours what she can into them to ensure our team’s success.”
It remains unclear whether Kitts, a senior, will seek a medical redshirt to return next season.
She had been projected as a high pick in next year’s WNBA draft.
Double Blow for the Gamecocks
Kitts isn’t the only key player sidelined. Ashlyn Watkins, another star forward, also tore her ACL in January and announced she would sit out the season entirely.
The absence of both players creates a significant challenge for South Carolina as they aim to defend their title and compete with rivals like reigning champions UConn.
Chloe Kitts’ Off-Court Spotlight
Beyond basketball, Kitts has gained a substantial following on Instagram, boasting 269,000 followers.
She recently captured media attention during the NBA Draft when her boyfriend, Toronto Raptors’ ninth-overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles, stood up to hug her and his family during the live broadcast.
Murray-Boyles had an impressive college career, averaging 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in his final year, earning second-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore and making the SEC All-Freshman Team as a freshman.
Looking Ahead
With the season fast approaching, South Carolina will need to adapt quickly to the loss of its star forwards.
Fans and teammates alike are hoping the team’s depth and resilience will keep them competitive as they chase another national championship.