Heartbreak in Columbia: Dawn Staley BREAK SILENCE with a Heartbreaking news On South Carolina Star Chloe Kitts Suffers Season-Ending ACL Tear Just Weeks Before Tipoff
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a devastating blow to the defending national champions, South Carolina women’s basketball star Chloe Kitts has suffered a torn ACL in her right knee and will miss the entire 2025-26 season, the program announced. The senior forward is expected to undergo surgery later this week.
Head coach Dawn Staley expressed heartbreak over the news, praising Kitts for her dedication and leadership both on and off the court.
“We hate this first for Chloe, who has worked incredibly hard to become the best version of herself on the court this season,” Staley said. “Her teammates are capable of stepping up, and I know that her competitive fire and tenacity will be felt from the sidelines as she pours what she can into them to ensure our team’s success.”
Kitts has been a fixture in the Gamecocks’ starting lineup for the past two seasons, playing a crucial role in South Carolina’s run to back-to-back national championship games, including the 2024 NCAA title victory.
Last season, she delivered the best numbers of her career, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, earning honorable mention All-America honors. She also ranked among the SEC’s top rebounders, finishing ninth overall and eighth in offensive boards (2.82 per game). Her performances in March were particularly dominant — Kitts was named MVP of both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Birmingham 2 Regional, solidifying her reputation as one of the team’s most reliable postseason performers.
While the loss of Kitts leaves a major hole in the lineup, Staley emphasized that the Gamecocks’ depth and culture of resilience will carry them through the season ahead.
South Carolina, the reigning SEC regular-season and tournament champion, will get its first test of the new campaign with an exhibition matchup against Anderson University on Friday, Oct. 24 at Colonial Life Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and admission is free to the public.
Kitts’ presence on the bench will undoubtedly continue to inspire her teammates — even as she begins the long road back to recovery.
