When the final buzzer sounded inside Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa on Thursday night, February 19, the scoreboard told a familiar story — South Carolina 76, Alabama 57. And watching from afar, one proud father made his feelings known on social media.
Jason Kitts, father of injured South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his pride in the No. 3-ranked Gamecocks following their commanding road victory. The post, shared via his handle @kitts_jason and subsequently picked up by the official @GamecockWBB account, celebrated the team’s resilience and competitive edge as they improved to an impressive 26-2 on the season, including a 12-1 mark in SEC play.
His reaction was one that resonated deeply within the South Carolina basketball community, particularly given the emotional backdrop surrounding his daughter. Chloe Kitts, a key contributor for the Gamecocks, has been sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear — a devastating blow for both the player and her family. Yet despite her absence, the Gamecocks continue to prove that their championship pedigree runs deeper than any one player, and Mr. Kitts was clearly moved by that demonstration of collective strength.
A Dominant Performance from Start to Finish
Thursday’s game was never truly in doubt. South Carolina opened the game on a 12-2 run and never relinquished the lead, with the Gamecocks’ defense setting the tone early by forcing five turnovers in the first quarter and holding Alabama to just 3-of-15 shooting from the floor. ESPN It was the kind of suffocating defensive effort that has become a hallmark of Dawn Staley’s program.
Joyce Edwards led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Madina Okot was equally dominant with 16 points and 16 rebounds. South Carolina outrebounded Alabama 39-31, including 12 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points and a commanding 44-20 advantage in points in the paint. ESPN
Alabama used a combined 42 points in the second and third quarters to cut the Gamecocks’ lead to seven heading into the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short 76-57. Alabama Athletics Alabama was led by Ta’Mia Scott with 14 points, but the 21-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter proved too much to overcome. ESPN
History Repeating Itself
The loss extended a historically lopsided series. Alabama has not defeated South Carolina since 2008, Yahoo Sports a streak that speaks volumes about the Gamecocks’ sustained excellence under Coach Dawn Staley. Earlier in the season, South Carolina had already handled Alabama in an 83-57 victory on New Year’s Day, Yahoo Sports making Thursday’s result the second time this season the Gamecocks dispatched the Crimson Tide with authority.
A Team Playing for More
For the Kitts family, this season carries an extra layer of emotion. Chloe Kitts, a starter and frontline presence for the Gamecocks, was ruled out for the year due to her ACL injury, leaving a significant void on the roster. Yet her teammates have rallied around that absence, continuing to win and compete at the highest level, which is precisely what moved her father to celebrate publicly.
Mr. Kitts’ post was brief but heartfelt — a father watching his daughter’s team carry on with pride and purpose, even without her on the floor. It was a moment that captured something beyond basketball: the bond between a family, a player, and a program that refuses to let adversity define its season.
The Gamecocks have proven that they can still win without Chloe Kitts manning the frontline, College Sports Network and Thursday night in Tuscaloosa was yet another testament to that fact.
With the SEC Tournament on the horizon and March Madness fast approaching, South Carolina continues to make its case as one of the premier programs in women’s college basketball. And in the stands, in living rooms, and on social media, families like the Kitts family are watching every moment — with joy, with pride, and with the quiet hope that the best is still yet to come.
