Latest news with #ChloeKitts
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Carolina unable to repeat, but Gamecocks poised to be back for another March Madness run
South Carolina unable to repeat, but Gamecocks poised to be back for another March Madness run South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts (21) reacts as she sits on the bench during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts (21) walks off the floor after South Carolina lost to UConn in the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) reacts on the bench during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Sania Feagin (20) walks off the floor with teammates after South Carolina lost to UConn in the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Sania Feagin (20) walks off the floor with teammates after South Carolina lost to UConn in the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts (21) reacts as she sits on the bench during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Chloe Kitts (21) walks off the floor after South Carolina lost to UConn in the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) reacts on the bench during the second half of the national championship game against UConn at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) South Carolina forward Sania Feagin (20) walks off the floor with teammates after South Carolina lost to UConn in the national championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — South Carolina's reign as national champions is over, however the future remains promising for the Gamecocks under Dawn Staley, who has transformed her program into a perennial Final Four contender over the past decade. While the team's bid for a fourth NCAA title in four years fell well short in an 82-59 loss to Paige Bueckers and UConn on Sunday, a talented core of players return next season when Staley will try to lead the Southeastern Conference champions to a sixth consecutive Final Four. Advertisement Despite coming off the bench, freshman Joyce Edwards (12.7 points) led the Gamecocks in scoring during the regular season. The teams other top scorers — sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.8) and junior Chloe Kitts (10.2) are underclassmen, too, and Staley has already bolstered the roster with a strong recruiting class led by Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell. 'Our kids gave it all they had. When you can understand why you lost and when you've been on the other side of that three times, you understand it. You can swallow it," Staley said. "We lost to a very good basketball team.' Junior Ashlyn Watkins is also making progress in recovering from a season-ending knee injury that's sidelined her since January. The Gamecocks shot poorly in Sunday night. They also had no answers defensively for UConn's Big Three of Bueckers, Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd — who was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. Advertisement After losing 87-58 at home to UConn on Feb. 16, South Carolina rattled off 12 straight wins before running out of gas Sunday. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
South Carolina women's basketball roster breakdown: Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts stats
South Carolina women's basketball roster breakdown: Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts stats Show Caption Hide Caption What is a Gamecock? South Carolina players take a guess South Carolina players are quizzed on what kind of bird a Gamecock is during Final Four weekend. Sports Seriously Though it enters Sunday's NCAA Tournament championship game against UConn as an underdog, South Carolina has been the standard in women's college basketball over the past several years, the leader that the other programs across the Division I level often find themselves chasing. The Gamecocks have earned a No. 1 seed in each of the past five NCAA Tournaments. They're appearing in their fifth-consecutive Final Four. They've won two of the past three national championships, with a third in four years on Sunday potentially solidifying them as the sport's first dynasty since, fittingly, the UConn program they're facing off against at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. South Carolina has gotten to that exalted place through talented, carefully constructed rosters that have a deft hand in coach Dawn Staley guiding them. REQUIRED READING: UConn vs South Carolina live updates: Women's March Madness championship TV channel, picks This year's group of Gamecocks is no exception, though it notably doesn't feature a single player who made the Associated Press All-American first, second or third teams. Despite losing key contributors like Kamilla Cardoso from last season's national championship team, South Carolina has racked up a 34-4 record and another Final Four berth behind several players who have stepped up and assumed larger roles, from dynamic guard MiLaysia Fulwiley to forward Chloe Kitts to freshman forward Joyce Edwards, who wasn't even on the team last season. As South Carolina prepares to take on Paige Bueckers and UConn, here's a closer look at the team's roster that got it to the precipice of yet another national title: South Carolina women's basketball roster Here's a look at the Gamecocks' 2024-25 roster, including jersey numbers, player heights, class and hometowns: 0 Te-Hina Paopao G Sr. 5' 9" - Oceanside, CA 1 Maddy McDaniel G Fr. 5' 9" - Upper Marlboro, MD 2 Ashlyn Watkins F Jr. 6' 3" - Columbia, SC 5 Tessa Johnson G Soph. 6' 0" - Albertville, MN 8 Joyce Edwards F Fr. 6' 3" - Camden, SC 12 MiLaysia Fulwiley G Soph. 5' 10" - Columbia, SC 15 Adhel Tac F Fr. 6' 5" - Grand Prairie, TX 20 Sania Feagin F Sr. 6' 3" - Ellenwood, GA 21 Chloe Kitts F Jr. 6' 2" - Oviedo, FL 23 Bree Hall G Sr. 6' 0" - Dayton, OH 25 Raven Johnson G Jr. 5' 9" - Atlanta, GA 30 Maryam Dauda F Jr. 6' 4" - Bentonville, AR 35 Sakima Walker C Sr. 6' 5" - Columbus, OH No. 8 Joyce Edwards stats As just a freshman, Edwards is leading South Carolina in scoring, at 12.7 points per game. The South Carolina native and former five-star recruit is also third on the team in rebounding, with five per game. The 6-foot-3 forward hasn't just been productive, but efficient, making 53.5% of her field goal attempts and 78.5% of her free throws. No. 12 MiLaysia Fulwiley stats Though she's averaging just 19 minutes per game, Fulwiley has made that time count. The 5-foot-10 sophomore, who grew up in the university's shadow in Columbia, South Carolina, is averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She has been occasionally erratic, though, shooting just 42.4% from the field and 25.8% from 3-point range. REQUIRED READING: South Carolina seniors one win away from 3rd NCAA national title under coach Dawn Staley No. 21 Chloe Kitts stats Kitts has been primarily responsible for filling behind the void left by Cardoso, who's now in the WNBA, in the Gamecocks' frontcourt. The 6-foot-2 Kitts is averaging 10.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field and 35% from 3. No. 0 Te-Hina Paopao stats An Oregon transfer in her second season with the program, Paopao has been South Carolina's most prolific outside shooter, having drained 59 3s this season at a 37.1% clip. She's also averaging a team-high 2.9 assists per game and is scoring 9.6 points per game, the fourth-best mark on the team. Dawn Staley record Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of women's college basketball's marquee programs in her 17 seasons there. During that time, her teams have gone 475-109, including a 383-43 mark since the start of the 2013-14 season. That run has included seven Final Fours and three national championships. Staley was previously the head coach for eight seasons at Temple in her hometown of Philadelphia, where she went 172-80 with five NCAA Tournament appearances.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
South Carolina vs Texas live updates: Final Four predictions, time, where to watch
South Carolina vs Texas live updates: Final Four predictions, time, where to watch Show Caption Hide Caption UCLA vs UConn, South Carolina vs Texas sets stage for Final Four USA Today's Meghan Hall previews the women's Final Four teams that will be heading down to Tampa to compete for national championship. Sports Seriously An inflection point in the women's NCAA Tournament has arrived. All roads have led to Tampa, Florida, throughout March Madness, and now a seemingly fated fourth matchup between South Carolina and Texas will take place in the Final Four. Dawn Staley's Gamecocks lead the season series 2-1, but what happens Friday will render the previous three results moot, with a trip to the national championship on the line for both sides. Watch South Carolina vs Texas with Fubo (free trial) For South Carolina, an uneven tournament has nevertheless led it to its fifth straight Final Four appearance. The lack of a consistent scorer has led to some nail-biters for the Gamecocks, who will turn to Chloe Kitts and SEC Sixth Player of the Year MiLaysia Fulwiley to get some consistent offense against the Longhorns. Texas, meanwhile, will undoubtedly keep leaning on SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker, the 19-year-old phenom who has been a force in the Texas frontcourt for the past two seasons. USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, scores, highlights and analysis throughout the game. Follow along. South Carolina vs Texas Final Four live score This section will be updated. Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F Texas — — — — — South Carolina — — — — — Starting lineups for South Carolina-Texas Here are the starting lineups for both South Carolina and Texas: South Carolina G Te-Hina Paopao F Sania Feagin F Chloe Kitts G Bree Hall G Raven Johnson Texas G Rori Harmon G Shay Holle G Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda F Madison Booker F Taylor Jones South Carolina women's basketball record Staley's South Carolina team enters the women's Final Four with a record of 34-3, including a conference record of 15-1. South Carolina vs Texas women's basketball odds Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, April 4 Spread: South Carolina (-5.5) South Carolina (-5.5) Over/under: 124.5 124.5 Moneyline: South Carolina -275 | Texas +220 South Carolina enters its Final Four matchup against Texas as the favorites by over five points, despite nailbiter wins over Maryland and Duke in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively. It will see a Texas team that was able to pull away from TCU in the third quarter of the Elite Eight after being challenged for most of its game against Tennessee. Women's March Madness championship odds Here are the odds of the teams in the Final Four, with the lone 2 seed, UConn, leading the pack. UConn -170 South Carolina +240 UCLA +800 Texas +900 South Carolina vs. Texas picks and predictions Our experts from across the USA TODAY Network are unanimous (4-0) on who will win the Final Four game between the Gamecocks and Longhorns. Take a look at their full bracket predictions. What time is South Carolina vs Texas today? Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET South Carolina and Texas are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa as the early leg of the Final Four. UCLA vs UConn will follow. Where to watch South Carolina vs Texas? South Carolina and Texas' game will air live on ESPN. Streaming options include ESPN+ and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Coloring. Legos. TikTok. How women's Final Four stars take care of their mental health
Coloring. Legos. TikTok. How women's Final Four stars take care of their mental health UCLA's Lauren Betts, South Carolina's Chloe Kitts, Texas' Rori Harmon and other Final Four stars opened up about how they take care of their mental health during pressure-packed March Madness. Show Caption Hide Caption UCLA vs UConn, South Carolina vs Texas sets stage for Final Four USA Today's Meghan Hall previews the women's Final Four teams that will be heading down to Tampa to compete for national championship. Sports Seriously Several prominent women's college basketball players have opened up about their mental health journeys during the 2025 Final Four. Players utilize various methods for managing pre-game anxiety and stress, including coloring, building Lego sets and doing therapy. Social media's impact on mental health varies among players, with some finding it detrimental and others viewing it as a healthy distraction. Many players emphasize the importance of having a strong support system and engaging in activities outside of basketball to maintain their mental well-being. TAMPA, Fla. — Confetti. Cutting down the nets. March Madness glory. All the rewards a college basketball player and her teammates dream of are within reach at the 2025 women's Final Four. So, on the biggest of stages, several of the game's biggest stars reflected on their mental health journey and how they handle the pressure of the moment. Lauren Betts, a center for No. 1 overall seed UCLA, took time away from the team last season to seek mental health treatment, and she continues to be open and honest about her mental health journey. 'I just don't feel like I have to really hide this anymore,' Betts said on Thursday. Watch women's Final Four live with Fubo (free trial) Not 50 paces from the microphone Betts sat behind, South Carolina's Chloe Kitts shared a similar sentiment. 'I feel like it's OK to talk about,' said Kitts, who noted it took some maturing to realize seeking help is what she needed. 'I mean, I'm just now talking about it because I'm just now taking care of myself.' Prior to the Gamecocks' Elite Eight contest, Kitts shared with ESPN how she uses a coloring book and her headphones – without music – to calm her nerves in the moments before game time. Kitts, with the help of her therapist, tried many strategies to ease her pregame anxiety before landing on her this routine. 'The breathing techniques didn't really help for me,' Kitts said. 'But I feel like my therapist just let me find something that was best for me and I haven't looked back since.' Chloe Kitts colors children's books as a way to destress before games ❤️ — espnW (@espnW) March 30, 2025 Texas guard Rori Harmon spoke earnestly on the subject as well, highlighting that mental health doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution. 'Some people, it's hard for them to talk to therapists, so they just talk to their friends,' Harmon said. 'Or some people need to talk to someone who actually has a solution to their problems.' Harmon's reflections around mental health followed a season-ending ACL injury last season. She called the injury and recovery process the hardest thing she'd experienced in her life thus far. 'I am a D-I athlete, and I can get through anything physical because that's something that we do every day,' Harmon said. 'But as far as, like, taking a mental toll, that's not something that we're always used to.' With stressors coming from the game itself as well as the new attention the sport has garnered, UConn players Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong recommend deleting social media apps. Alternatively, South Carolina players Sania Feagin and Raven Johnson find positives in being on social media. 'I think some of us, we need TikTok,' Johnson said. 'If you eat, sleep, breathe basketball, you're honestly going to be depressed and stressed about it. I think it helps us, gives us a little laughter, makes us enjoy things other than basketball.' A common thread between most players is the need to find some sort of outlet beyond the sport they love. For Kitts, it is coloring books. For Feagin, it's building Lego sets or painting. 'I think people forget that basketball isn't like who we are,' Harmon added. 'It's just something that we do ... something that we take pride in, we love doing, but we're humans, too.' UCLA's Lauren Betts reveals her focus on "mental work" ahead of Final Four UCLA Lauren Betts explains how her focus on improving her mental health has contributed to her performance this season. On the other hand, UConn's Kaitlyn Chen, a graduate transfer from Princeton, pointed to the game of basketball as her outlet from the anxiety-causing parts of regular life. 'Basketball has played a big part in being sort of a stress reliever for me,' Chen said. 'Because it's a break from school and a break from every other daily stressor, and it's just something that I still find to bring me a lot of joy and something that's really fun for me.' The strategies players use to take care of their mental health differ, but all of the players were in agreement about the importance of a support system. 'For every 500 people that love you, there's going to be five that hate you,' Bueckers said. 'So it's just focusing on the people that are important.' Women's Final Four schedule Makenzy Wolford is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Carolina Gamecocks play the Texas Longhorns in Final 4
Tampa, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gamecocks -4.5; over/under is 124.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 2 South Carolina and No. 5 Texas play in the NCAA Tournament Final Four. The Gamecocks are 18-1 against SEC opponents and 16-2 in non-conference play. South Carolina ranks second in the SEC at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 57.4 points while holding opponents to 35.2% shooting. The Longhorns are 18-2 in SEC play. Texas has a 30-3 record against teams above .500. South Carolina averages 5.8 made 3-pointers per game, 2.0 more made shots than the 3.8 per game Texas gives up. Texas averages 3.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 fewer made shots on average than the 5.2 per game South Carolina allows. The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Gamecocks won 64-45 in the last matchup on March 9. Chloe Kitts led the Gamecocks with 15 points, and Taylor Jones led the Longhorns with 14 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Joyce Edwards is scoring 12.7 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists for the Gamecocks. Kitts is averaging 13.1 points and 8.4 rebounds over the last 10 games. Madison Booker is shooting 46.5% and averaging 16.5 points for the Longhorns. Jordan Lee is averaging 0.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Gamecocks: 10-0, averaging 77.3 points, 35.7 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 58.0 points per game. Longhorns: 9-1, averaging 66.3 points, 33.2 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 52.7 points. ___
