South Carolina women’s basketball forward Ashlyn Watkins announced in a post on social media on Friday afternoon that she plans to take a year off from basketball and return in 2026-27.
Last season, Watkins played in 14 games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury against Mississippi State. In those 14 games, Watkins averaged 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 18 minutes per game.
Here’s what Watkins said in a post on social media announcing her plans to take time away and return in 2026-27.
“As most of you know, this past year has been a roller coaster for me. I usually like to keep my personal life private, but every time I step out into the community, I realize I’m not alone in this journey. So many of you have shown me love and encouragement, and because of that, I feel like I owe you a little insight into what’s been going on.
“I also want the younger ones who look up to me to know that tough times don’t define you, they make you stronger.
“With everything that’s happened this year, I’m going to take some time off to focus on myself, my community, my faith and my family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master this journey of life.
“I’m so grateful for my coaches, the USC medical team, my teammates, and everyone who’s supported me along the way. For now, I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger in the 2026-27 season.”
In three seasons at South Carolina, Watkins has averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. On the Gamecocks’ national championship team in 2023-24, Watkins averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 boards per game. For her performance as a sophomore, Watkins was a second team All-SEC selection.
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