It was a tough blow when junior forward Ashlyn Watkins suffered a torn ACL on her left knee during a game against Mississippi State. It was one of those gut-wrenching moments—Watkins landed awkwardly in the second quarter, immediately grabbed her knee, and just like that, her season was over. Since then, there has been talk of Watkins potentially receiving a medical redshirt. But according to Dawn Staley, that might not be so simple.
Head coach Staley has been vocal about the impact of losing Watkins, emphasizing how the team would rally in her absence. “I know her sisters will rally around her injury and know she will be sorely missed,” Staley said.
When asked about the possibility of Watkins receiving a medical redshirt, Staley responded unexpectedly: “It’s above my pay grade.” While she did add that the team would explore options to get Watkins another year of eligibility, it was a surprising admission from a coach who is typically known for having a firm grasp on roster decisions.
“We’ll do what we need to do to see if we can get that year back. Regardless, they don’t decide on that until you’ve exhausted your eligibility,” she added.
Dawn Staley on a potential medical redshirt for Ashlyn Watkins: Says it’s “above my pay grade”
“We’ll do what we need to do to see if we can get that year back. Regardless, they don’t decide on that until you’ve exhausted your eligibility.”
— Michael Sauls (@mcsauls) January 29, 2025
But what comes next for Watkins and the Gamecocks? That’s where things get a little murky.
(This story is still developing … stay tuned!)
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