Charges against South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins dismissed

Charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping against South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins have been dismissed, according to Richland County (S.C.) Fifth Judicial Circuit Court records.

Watkins, a junior forward, was arrested on Aug. 31 following an incident in which she allegedly assaulted someone by “forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her by her arms, and pushing her,” according to an arrest warrant filed by the University of South Carolina Police Department.

Following the arrest, South Carolina suspended Watkins from the program. She did not travel to the White House for the team’s championship celebration honoring the 2024 national title nor with the No. 1 Gamecocks for their season-opening win against Michigan on Monday in Las Vegas. The school’s official game notes had listed her as “currently suspended from team activities” for the opener.

A South Carolina spokesperson did not immediately respond to The Athletic’s request for comment.

Watkins was a key contributor to the Gamecocks’ undefeated national championship-winning roster last season. She averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.

South Carolina plays its second game of the season Sunday against NC State, a rematch of one of last season’s national semifinals.

Chantel Jennings contributed to this report.

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)