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USC, South Carolina Women's Basketball Chase March Madness Goals Without All-Americans
Top-seeded Gamecocks and 9th-seeded Trojans reach second round despite losing star players to injury
Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:39pm
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South Carolina and USC are both still alive in the women's NCAA Tournament despite entering the season without their star All-America players. The Gamecocks lost senior forward Chloe Kitts to a knee injury in October, while the Trojans' dynamic guard JuJu Watkins tore her ACL in last year's tournament. Both teams have had to adjust their rosters and playing styles, yet they are now one win away from reaching the Sweet 16.
Why it matters
The injuries to Kitts and Watkins were major blows to the championship aspirations of the Gamecocks and Trojans, who were both expected to be national title contenders this season. However, the teams have shown resilience and the ability to adapt, proving they are more than just one-player squads. Their success without their All-American talents has been an inspiring story in this year's March Madness.
The details
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb have both taken a similar approach, not dwelling on the absences of Kitts and Watkins but instead focusing on getting the most out of their current rosters. The Gamecocks and Trojans have had to adjust roles and responsibilities, with players like USC's Laura Williams stepping up to fill the void left by Watkins. Both teams also added key transfers to bolster their depth and offset the losses of their star players.
- In October, South Carolina senior forward Chloe Kitts suffered a knee injury during practice and has missed the entire season.
- Last year, USC guard JuJu Watkins tore her ACL in the NCAA Tournament and has been sidelined for the 2026 season.
The players
Chloe Kitts
A senior forward for the South Carolina Gamecocks who suffered a season-ending knee injury in October.
JuJu Watkins
A dynamic guard for the USC Trojans who tore her ACL in last year's NCAA Tournament and has missed the 2026 season.
Lindsay Gottlieb
The head coach of the USC Trojans women's basketball team.
Dawn Staley
The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team.
Laura Williams
A forward for the USC Trojans who has had to step up in the absence of JuJu Watkins.
What they’re saying
“Losing a player like JuJu, everyone had to step up into a new role, whether it's being a leader or doing what you can for the team.”
— Laura Williams, USC Trojans forward
“I don't think any of us allowed us to lower the standard. But we also didn't really reference JuJu in terms of, oh, if we had her. We knew she wasn't going to be available on the court in that capacity.”
— Lindsay Gottlieb, USC Trojans head coach
“I think it's our job as coaches to hit it once and move on.”
— Dawn Staley, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach
What’s next
The winner of the South Carolina-USC matchup on Monday night will advance to the Sweet 16 in Sacramento.
The takeaway
The resilience and adaptability shown by the Gamecocks and Trojans in the face of major injuries to their star players has been an inspiring storyline in this year's NCAA Tournament. Their success without their All-American talents proves they are more than one-dimensional teams and have the depth and coaching to overcome significant challenges.
