After entertaining the WNBA season, all eyes are now on college basketball, where top recruits and freshmen are ready to showcase their magic. The South Carolina Gamecocks will also be looking to regain their championship after finishing second last season. But they will be without their forward Chloe Kitts.
The senior will be out for the season following an ACL injury, as she announced on social media. HC Dawn Staley was devastated by the loss as Kitts’ season-ending ACL injury derails South Carolina and 2026 WNBA draft hopes. However, the HC sends a heartfelt message of support to the former champion player.
Dawn Staley With Strong Message For Chloe Kitts
The South Carolina Gamecocks have had a ‘golden run’ in the NCAA tournaments in recent years, reaching back-to-back NCAA finals and winning a title in 2024. Kitts was one of the standout performers in that run, putting up career-high numbers last season.
But the star announced her injury, which stunned many fans who saw her a week before with a knee cap. The South Carolina team showed complete support for the star forward, and HC Staley had a strong message for her champion player.
“We hate this first 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,” Staley told the press.
We got you Chloe ❤️https://t.co/xXVkoF5C6R https://t.co/rAP2eV1T80
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) October 13, 2025
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College basketball is also gaining attention, with top recruits like Aaliyah Chavez signing multi-year Nike NIL shoe contracts, while senior players like Azzi Fudd and Juju Watkins are signing deals with the Unrivaled league. Kitts is also one of such talents looking to make a big impact, but her injury hampers her progress and might impact her gameplay. Moreover, it puts pressure on her team, who will now be looking to make adjustments in multiple ways.
Chloe Kitts’ Injury Puts South Carolina Gamecocks Active On Market
The trades and transfers for the season are already taking traction with the start of the season approaching fast. But the Gamecocks will be aggressive on the market now following the injury to their star forward. They already lost standout guard MiLaysia Fulwiley to rivals LSU Tigers, while Ashlyn Watkins will also miss the upcoming season due to injury, making the forward line-up thin for Staley.
As the HC mentioned, the offense will now rely on performances of sophomore Joyce Edwards, forward Adhel Tac, and center Madina Okot; still, to ease some load and have better rotation, the coach will be in the market for a forward. At the moment, Gamecocks have 10 active players on the roster, with four players capable of playing the forward position.