As if the off-season turmoil weren’t enough in 2024, another turbulent update had awaited Ashlyn Watkins as the games set in. After dropping an impressive 11-11 double-double within 21 minutes against the Missouri Tigers, injury struck, forcing her to watch from the sidelines as her teammates progressed to the championship finals. Looks like nothing much is changing on that front.

As the 2025-26 season nears by the day, Watkins has revealed she has a few things to undo before she returns to the hardwood. So what exactly is keeping her away?

Why is Ashlyn Watkins sitting out the 2025-26 season?

On July 25th, South Carolina forward, Ashlyn Watkins, announced she’d be taking a year off from playing basketball. As a result, we won’t be seeing her suit up for a second consecutive year. 

For Watkins, who faced kidnapping allegations, an arrest, a suspension, and suffered a season-ending injury all in one year, the hardwood isn’t the priority just yet. The 21-year-old has decided to focus on herself and rewind from a life that has been so public. “With everything that’s happened so far, I’m going to take some time off to focus on myself, my community, my faith, and family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master this journey of life,” she wrote on Instagram.

The next time we see Watkins in a Gamecocks jersey, it will be for the 2026-27 season. That would mean over 20 months off the court for the forward. Because the last time she she scored a basket was in January 2025.

Did Ashlyn Watkins suffer an injury before deciding to sit out?

Yes, Watkins suffered a torn ACL during a crucial second quarter against Mississippi State in January 2025. She had collided with a defender before holding her knee in visible pain and being helped off the court by the training staff. Soon after, the Gamecocks announced she would miss the rest of the season while a surgery was scheduled.

Watkins’ junior year campaign ended with 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in 14 appearances. “(Ashlyn) will bounce back!” South Carolina’s social media post had read, but here we are. However, for what it’s worth, in April 2025, Staley had said that the recovery was “going smoothly” and Watkins was finally off crutches and progressing toward on-court activity.

Although her physical recovery was gradual and uniform, the need for a year-long break suggests Ashlyn’s need for emotional and mental recuperation. After all, the athlete was suspended before the Gamecocks’ season opener after she was arrested on felony charges in August 2024. While those were eventually dismissed, they have left an inebriated scar on the player’s career trajectory. Dawn Staley, though, has and continues to assure her support. 

What Did Dawn Staley Say About Ashlyn Watkins’ Decision to Take a Year Off?

“I’m so grateful for my coaches, the USC medical team, my teammates, and everyone who’s supported me along the way,” Watkins said in her social media post. “For now, I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger in the 2026-27 season.” While this promise of a vigorous recovery comes as a respite to fans and the Gamecocks locker room, coach Staley is remaining composed.

“We will support Ashyln as she works through getting her body and mind stronger; and we will be here when she is ready to return,” she said. For the HC, everyone in the program is valued for their individualism and not just for their on-court contributions. Even when uncertainty had loomed over Watkins prior to and during the 2024-25 season, she had stood firmly by her side.

We await well over a year to catch the coach-player duo back in action.