Tag: Chloe Kitts

As we bring you the latest update, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley is marveling at the growth and progress of junior forward Chloe Kitts since she joined the team in 2022. Staley recently admitted during a postgame press conference that Kitts’ transformation has been nothing short of “unbelievable.”

“She’s grown in every aspect of her life—mentally, physically, emotionally,” Staley said. “We have grown-up conversations, and I can’t believe it sometimes because of how she came in. Now she is really thought-provoking. She is really asking all the right things.”

Kitts made her mark after joining the Gamecocks in December 2022, when she enrolled early in college, skipping her senior year of high school to be part of the team. Her rapid development has left a lasting impact on the program.

In the same press conference, Kitts reflected on her emotions as she sank the key free throws to seal the win for South Carolina against Duke. “I told myself that my coach wanted me to have the ball at the end of the game because she knew I could make my free throws,” Kitts shared. “And I told myself that I’m really good at basketball, and I made both of them.”

Chloe Kitts’ performance played a crucial role in the Gamecocks’ victory over the Duke Blue Devils in a tense Elite Eight matchup. South Carolina triumphed 54-50, advancing to their fifth consecutive Final Four. The game saw an intense back-and-forth, with Duke leading 42-38 after the third quarter. However, South Carolina came alive in the fourth, scoring the first eight points to regain control and ultimately secure the win.

Kitts was instrumental in the Gamecocks’ success, contributing 14 points and 4 rebounds. Her pivotal fourth-quarter layup gave South Carolina a 46-42 lead, followed by the two free throws that sealed the victory. Her clutch performance under pressure highlighted her growing significance to the team.

South Carolina’s defense was also crucial in the win, forcing 19 Duke turnovers and holding them to just 32% shooting. Despite Duke’s strong rebounding efforts, the Gamecocks showed resilience, executing their strategy effectively to outlast their opponents.

This season, Kitts has been a standout player, averaging 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game—numbers that reflect her increasing importance to the Gamecocks’ success.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Chloe Kitts contributed 14 points as defending national champion South Carolina advanced to the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, defeating Duke 54-50 on Sunday.

The top-seeded Gamecocks are now just two victories away from becoming the first team since UConn’s four-year championship streak from 2013 to 2016 to successfully defend their title. Next up, South Carolina will face the winner of tonight’s matchup between Texas and TCU, with the Final Four set to take place in Tampa, Florida this coming Friday.

On the other side, Duke, the second seed, was aiming for its first Final Four appearance since 2006. That year, Duke fell short in an overtime loss to Maryland in the championship game, and this time, the Blue Devils were hoping to join their men’s team in the Final Four ranks.

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Dawn Staley Signs Baby After South Carolina’s Elite Eight Victory Over Duke

Live from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, where thousands of fans gathered to witness the South Carolina women’s basketball team’s thrilling 54-50 Elite Eight victory over the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. It was an emotional win for the Gamecocks, and one special fan left with a unique souvenir – a signed onesie!

After the game, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley stayed behind to meet and sign autographs for fans. But one fan took it a step further, offering up their baby instead of a typical item like a shirt or hat. Coach Staley was happy to oblige, autographing the baby’s onesie as the crowd looked on in awe. The baby was decked out in South Carolina’s colors, sporting a garnet bow and a black jersey, a perfect little tribute to the Gamecocks.

“That was a first,” Staley said with a chuckle. “Yeah, my hand was shaking.”

Staley has a deep connection with her younger supporters, as she often wears beaded bracelets and necklaces given to her by children in hospitals. This includes a bracelet from a young boy battling sickle cell disease and two necklaces from Blakely, a young girl undergoing cancer treatments. Staley met Blakely during a visit to the UVA Children’s Hospital back in 2023.

“For us, it’s our world, it’s our passion, it’s what we do,” Staley explained earlier this month. “It’s really just basketball when you put it in perspective of what other people have to go through.”

South Carolina celebrated its Elite Eight victory by cutting down the nets in what is sure to be a memorable moment for both the team and their supporters. With this win, the defending champion Gamecocks are now headed to their fifth consecutive Final Four, where they’ll face the winner of the No. 1 Texas or No. 2 TCU matchup in Tampa Bay, Florida.

No. 6 South Carolina wrapped up their final SEC road game of the season with a 75-59 victory over Ole Miss, extending their win streak over the Rebels to 20 consecutive games.

Veteran players Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin were pivotal in the Gamecocks’ success, combining for an impressive 38 points in what turned out to be a historic night for the team.

Chloe Kitts made history by recording South Carolina’s first triple-double since Aliyah Boston back in 2021. Kitts finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists—marking the first points/rebounds/assists triple-double for the Gamecocks since 2006 and the first ever against an SEC opponent. Kitts also added four steals and one block to her standout performance.

Meanwhile, Sania Feagin delivered a career-best 22 points on an efficient 10-for-13 shooting performance, including 16 points in the first half, which was the second-most for any Gamecock in a half this season. She also contributed five blocks in a strong defensive showing.

Joyce Edwards continued her consistent play, scoring 10 points to mark her fifth straight game in double figures. Edwards put up eight of those points in the final quarter, showcasing her clutch performance when the Gamecocks needed it most.

MiLayisa Fulwiley found her rhythm in the second half, scoring seven of her nine points after the break and hitting a key three-pointer in the third quarter to help maintain South Carolina’s double-digit lead.

The Gamecocks showed strong teamwork, assisting on 20 of their 29 field goals, and demonstrated their defensive prowess by out-stealing Ole Miss 10 to 6.

In all, South Carolina executed on both ends of the floor, securing another dominant win in their quest for the top of the SEC.

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Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

South Carolina’s head coach Paul Mainieri is feeling positive about the Gamecocks’ early challenges on the field. Though the team remains undefeated, their performance hasn’t been flawless. The Gamecocks had a close call against Winthrop, which left some fans scratching their heads, even after dominating Sacred Heart in the season opener. But for Mainieri, the tight game is no cause for concern. He values these gritty victories, a perspective he’s held for years thanks to advice from his father.

“I remember my dad vividly saying to me on the phone, ‘Hey, don’t ever be upset about winning close games, because you’re better off having those kinds of games. Your team will grow from it. They’ll learn how to be composed and poised at the end of the game. Down the road when they need to win that close game against a really tough opponent, they’ll have been there and done that, and that makes their confidence even that much better,’” Mainieri reflected.

The Gamecocks aren’t alone in facing tough matchups. Even the no. 8 Georgia Bulldogs experienced struggles, losing to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, only to later pull off a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against Kennesaw State. Not every team, however, has had the dominance displayed by Tennessee, who easily handled both Hofstra and UNC Asheville with lopsided victories.

Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are aiming to continue their perfect streak, with a weekend series against the Milwaukee Panthers on the horizon as they strive for a 6-0 record.