Chloe Kitts Takes Over as South Carolina Secures Semifinal Spot
With just minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, South Carolina clung to a narrow 68-63 lead. Mikayla Blakes had just banked in a three-pointer, fueling Vanderbilt’s momentum. The Gamecocks were desperate for a response, but the Commodores had them rattled.
Then, it became Chloe Kitts’ moment.
After the inbound pass, Kitts took control, drove into the lane, and pulled up for a crucial basket. Officially, the play lasted five seconds—it felt even quicker.
Initially, Kitts hinted that the play was called “14,” before Dawn Staley playfully scolded her for revealing team strategies. Later, Kitts backtracked, claiming she couldn’t recall the play at all.
“I do not remember that play,” she admitted. “I’m sorry, I really don’t.”
Her teammate Tessa Johnson was more candid. She explained that while the play had multiple options, they knew the ball would end up with Kitts.
“There were reads off of it, but she ended up making it work,” said Johnson.
And work it did. Kitts followed her clutch basket with a defensive rebound, another score, yet another rebound—this time drawing a foul—and a free throw.
“The thing about USC basketball is everybody can go off at any time, and today was her day,” said Joyce Edwards. “We kept feeding her, as we should.”
In total, Kitts scored seven consecutive points, propelling South Carolina toward victory. She dropped 11 of her career-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, contributing nine points during the Gamecocks’ game-sealing 16-0 run.
“My teammates just found me, and they kept telling me to go,” said Kitts. “I just wanted to win so bad. I was just being aggressive.”
Her dominance extended beyond scoring—Kitts secured 10 rebounds, completing a double-double. Since South Carolina’s loss to UConn, she has been on fire, averaging 13.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 61.4%. She now boasts four double-doubles in five games, including a triple-double.
“Oh my goodness, she’s been having a year,” said Johnson. “Before the game, I told her to keep playing how she’s been playing. She did that, and she needs to continue to do that.”
It’s clear—Kitts is playing the best basketball of her career.
“I would imagine that this is kind of how she envisioned her entire season going, but it didn’t go that way,” said Staley. “It was a little bit up and down, inconsistent. But Chloe is strong enough mentally, physically to handle the rigors of this league. No one is just going to kill it every single night.”
Now, with the postseason in full swing, Kitts is finding her confidence at the perfect time. She has grown from past disappointments, learning from South Carolina’s heartbreak in the 2023 Final Four and her own struggles in 2024.
“It’s just self-confidence in knowing who I am and being comfortable with who I am,” said Kitts.
Even as her teammates buzzed about her dominant performance in the postgame locker room, Kitts remained unfazed.
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” she shrugged. “But now we’re moving on to the next one.”
