Chloe Kitts Returns to Strengthen South Carolina Offense

Impressive Junior Year and a Setback

Chloe Kitts delivered a standout junior campaign for South Carolina women’s basketball, raising expectations for her senior season. The 6‑foot‑2 forward’s progress stalled dramatically when she tore her ACL on a rebound in practice last October. The injury forced every step of her rebuilding to take a hard turn, sidelining her for the entire off‑season.

Even as she recovered, coach Dawn Staley highlighted the intangibles Kitts brought to the program. She consistently made hustle plays, dominated the boards, and kept up her work ethic by lifting on game days when it wasn’t mandatory. Those habits made Staley’s job easier, even without Kitts on the court.

South Carolina still surged to a second straight national championship game without her, yet the absence was glaring. The Gamecocks missed a reliable mid‑range threat, a facet where the post players struggled last season.

Mid‑Range Threat Returns

For the 2024‑25 season, Kitts shot 36.5 % from mid‑range, 3.2 % above the Division I average, according to CBB Analytics. Joyce Edwards led the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game but only connected at 30.4 % from that zone. Madina Okot added 12.8 points and a 44.8 % three‑point clip, yet struggled from mid‑range at 18.4 %.

During the 79‑51 loss to UCLA in the national title game, South Carolina managed just 20 % from mid‑range while shooting 29 % overall. With UCLA’s 6‑foot‑7 Lauren Betts anchoring the paint, the Gamecocks took only ten shots from just inside the three‑point line. The limited outside presence made it harder to create open looks around the elbows.

Now that Kitts is back, she restores the mid‑range threat that stretches defenses. Her presence creates better high‑low actions and prevents double‑teams from clogging the paint, especially as Edwards continues to seek success at the rim.

How Chloe Kitts Restores Offensive Depth

Kitts offers a versatile attack inside the arc. She shot 52.5 % in the paint on shots not at the rim, 14.4 % better than the DI average, and made 62.3 % of her attempts at the rim, 5 % above the norm. Her improved three‑point shot from junior year adds another dimension to her repertoire.

South Carolina’s roster features eight post players, none a true center, giving Dawn Staley flexibility to mix lineups. Staley can deploy a tall frontcourt with Kitts in the wing spot, or revert to the familiar starting trio of Kitts, Edwards, and three‑point specialist Tessa Johnson.

Edwards dominated the paint last year, taking 49.6 % of her shots from the rim and converting 72.7 % of them. Johnson was nearly 18 % better than average from deep, shooting 48.2 % from the three‑point line. Kitts’ addition supplies that crucial third layer, boosting the team’s scoring options and defensive versatility.

With Kitts back in uniform, South Carolina’s offense regains a balanced attack that can stretch the floor, exploit mismatches, and keep opponents guessing. Fans can expect the Gamecocks to be even more formidable as they chase another championship.