COLUMBIA — Junior forward Ashlyn Watkins is not playing with South Carolina women’s basketball‘s exhibition game in Memphis, Tennessee on Tuesday night, due to her suspension following her arrest on Aug. 31.
Watkins was arrested on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. South Carolina athletics told The Greenville News on Sept. 5 that Watkins is suspended from all team activities. It’s confirmed there have been no changes as of Tuesday morning.
The Gamecocks are playing Memphis in an exhibition game as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedEx Forum (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Greenville News can confirmed that Watkins was not at practice on Monday.
Watkins is scheduled to make a court appearance on Oct. 25, three days before the second exhibition game, and 10 days before the season opener against Michigan at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Coach Dawn Staley spoke to media about the situation on Sept. 24, and said “Status is still the same, nothing’s moved yet and we’re not going to move until her situation settles down a little bit.”
Staley said Monday that senior forward Sania Feagin will start with junior forward Chloe Kitts.
Former starting center Kamilla Cardoso just finished her rookie year in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky. With Watkins’ absence, Staley is looking to fill the void of both players. Watkins started nine games last year and averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. In the Final Four game against NC State on April 5, she had a career-high 20 rebounds.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
