"We don't harp on it": Dawn Staley highlights silver lining for Chloe Kitts and other South Carolina players in Ashlyn Watkins' absence

Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks extended their winning streak to 13 games on Sunday, crushing the Oklahoma Sooners 101-60 at Colonial Life Arena. Eight players scored at least seven points for the Gamecocks, who improved their overall record to 18-1.

Joyce Edwards led South Carolina in scoring with 17 points. She was efficient on the offensive end, shooting 8-for-10 from the field. Fellow reserves MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson also contributed, combining for 28 points and 12 assists.

The Gamecocks remained red-hot despite the team losing Ashlyn Watkins to a season-ending knee injury. They have won by an average of 29.3 points in their last four games since Watkins was ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 NCAA season with a torn ACL.

Dawn Staley praised her players for stepping up in Watkins' absence during the postgame press conference.

"I think sometimes when you lose a player, you gain in other areas," Staley said (Timestamp 7:01). "Of course, we lose Ashlyn’s ability to block shots, defend, rebound and score. Her presence, competitiveness, her outward [mindset] like getting our players to go to another level."

"Yes, we miss that but then when you take that away, you know Joyce [Edwards] feels a lot more comfortable. She’s probably getting five of those minutes off Ashlyn’s and you see it’s paying big dividends.

"Chloe [Kitts] is a little more relaxed and [Sania] Feagin to me has just upped her game. It isn’t anything besides comfort knowing that I could probably play 25 minutes instead of 17."

Dawn Staley added that she has complete belief in her players that they could get the job done even without Watkins in the lineup.

"We didn’t present like we don’t have enough to continue to compete at a really high level," Staley said. "As a coaching staff, we just never harp on it. Yes, we feel sorry for Ash and her not being with us. Do we have the utmost confidence in the people that are left? Absolutely."

Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin deliver for Dawn Staley in win over Oklahoma

Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin displayed their increasing comfort in Dawn Staley's system during the game against No. 13 Oklahoma, combining for 19 points in the rout. Feagin scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes of action. She also displayed her defensive prowess, recording three blocks and one steal.

Raven Johnson (#25), Sania Feagin (#20), MiLaysia Fulwiley (#12) and Chloe Kitts (#21) of the South Carolina Gamecocks huddle during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Colonial Life Arena on January 12, 2024. Photo: Getty

Kitts also made her presence felt in the frontcourt, scoring seven points and collecting six boards. Fellow starter Te-Hina Paopao scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, while Bree Hall and Raven Johnson each dropped nine points for second-ranked South Carolina.