“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support,” Chloe Kitts wrote on social media Monday. “While this isn’t how I hoped my senior season would go, I’m trusting God’s timing and purpose. I’ll continue to lead, support, and push my team from the sidelines. We have big things ahead!”

The news hit the internet like a storm. South Carolina was set to be without two of its top forwards due to ACL injuries. Ashlyn Watkins, who had been expected to return midseason after tearing her ACL in January, announced she would be sitting out this year to “focus on myself,” and now Kitts would be joining her. Fans were left wondering how the Gamecocks would navigate the challenges of the upcoming season.

Kitts had been a cornerstone for South Carolina, starting the past two seasons and playing a crucial role in their 2024 national championship run. The Gamecocks made it back to the title game in April but fell short against UConn. Now, with her set to miss the upcoming season, her father revealed an important health update.

As retweeted by South Carolina women’s basketball reporter Lulu Kesin, Chloe Kitts’ father shared that she underwent surgery today to repair her torn ACL. While the exact timing of the injury is unclear, reports from Greenville News show she was healthy and actively practicing on September 22, meaning the injury must have occurred afterward. With the surgery complete, Kitts now faces a lengthy rehab process ahead.

Kitts’ absence is a massive blow to South Carolina. Last season, she started all 38 games, averaging 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, and earned MVP honors at the SEC Tournament. This was set to be her senior season, and with this injury, her time with the Gamecocks could be cut tragically short. “We hate this first for Chloe, who has worked incredibly hard to become the best version of herself on the court this season,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said.

Of course, Kitts has the option to return for another year using a medical redshirt, but will she take that path? The WNBA is on the verge of entering a new CBA era, even though negotiations are currently at a standstill. Players are expected to earn significantly more under the new deal, and for Kitts, that could be a game changer if she makes the jump to the W next season.

The big question for Gamecocks fans is how they’ll replace a cornerstone like Chloe Kitts as they gear up for a new season and chase revenge against UConn. But Coach Staley isn’t worried!

Who will replace Chloe Kitts?

Luckily for the Gamecocks, their depth has always been a strength. Last season, Joyce Edwards led the team in scoring, yet she started just one game–showing that South Carolina doesn’t rely on a single superstar. With Kitts out, Staley is down to just 10 healthy players. She specifically has only two forwards left behind Edwards in Maryam Dauda and Adhel Tac, but that doesn’t bother the head coach.

“It’s not like we’re going to ask someone to be Chloe because that’s impossible,” Staley said at the SEC media day. “But we’re unafraid to go into the season without Chloe. We’re not going to skip a beat. Our players know that anytime we sustain any kind of injury, we believe in the system that we put together. We believe in the players we’ve assembled.”

Last season’s top scorer in the country, Ta’Niya Latson, has been the headline addition to the roster, but with Kitts and Watkins sidelined, former Mississippi State center Madina Okot will be tasked with anchoring the Gamecocks’ frontcourt. During her 34 starts last season with the Bulldogs, Okot averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

With the season tipping off on November 3 against Grand Canyon, it will be fascinating to watch how Coach Staley navigates the Gamecocks’ frontcourt challenges. The road to March Madness starts in just a few weeks, so stay tuned to see how it all unfolds.