Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks extended their winning streak to four games this season with a dominant 95-44 victory over East Carolina. The defending champs delivered a well-rounded performance, with every player on the roster contributing to the box score. Despite the lopsided win, Coach Staley didn’t seem entirely satisfied with her team’s effort, though. Rather than basking in the team’s success, she took a critical approach, focusing on areas where she felt they could still improve and she wants more from Ashlyn Watkins.

In the post-game press conference, Coach Staley was asked by the media about her team’s depth and the fact that every player had contributed to the score. While acknowledging the impressive balance, the 3x national championship winning HC seized the moment to emphasize her desire for even more perfection.

“I mean, we’re talented, there’s no doubt about it. We’re talented is — how we figure out what you know, what group works well together and we’re just, we’re struggling with it. We’re not playing bad but we’re struggling with combinations. So we’ll just continue to try to find it on any given day. It could move from game to game,” Staley told the press.

South Carolina have made just one change to their starting five so far this season, and it came in their game against NC State when Kitts had to sit out due to an academic policy issue. Aside from that, the lineup has remained consistent. Moreover, Ashlyn Watkins, who was unable to play in the team’s season opener, made her return in the second matchup. Coach Staley also commented on her comeback and highlighted other players’ performance:

“But we certainly more. We need more from Ash (Watkins), we need — I think Maryam (Dauda) is getting better with more time — she’s getting better. Adhel (Tac) needs more time, like she really needs more time just to knock the rust off, you know, but we don’t have a lot of time. If she’s not playing well, we got to get somebody else in there. I think she knows the ropes. Everybody knows the ropes. If you’re playing well, we’re gonna probably play you extended minutes. If you’re not, we got to get somebody else in.”

Ashlyn Watkins contributed 8 points in the win against East Carolina, boosting her season average to 5.4 points per game. Given that she averaged 9.2 points during her sophomore year, it’s clear she has the potential to take her game to the next level. Junior Maryam Dauda and freshman Adhel Tac have also been making their mark, with Dauda putting up 12 points and Tac contributing 4 points over the three games they participated in.

Well, Staley’s critical comments didn’t overlook the standout performance of the team’s top scorer, Chloe Kitts.

Chloe Kitts’ strong performance and Coach Dawn Staley’s high expectations

Chloe Kitts wasn’t sidelined due to an injury, but rather had to miss the Gamecocks’ second game against NC State because of an “academic policy issue.” Despite the setback, she made a strong return in the next game against Coppin State, delivering a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Building on that momentum, Kitts came into the following game with high expectations—and she didn’t disappoint.

She once again led the Gamecocks in scoring, finishing with a team-high 14 points and further cementing her vital role in the team’s success. Despite her standout performance, however, Coach Staley had a few concerns during the post-game press conference. “Chloe had to make some adjustments,” she said, referring to the forward’s ongoing development.

Chloe Kitts continues to shine on the court, averaging 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, with two double-doubles in just three games—a clear sign of her growing impact. However, as Dawn Staley pointed out, Kitts is no longer flying under the radar. “She’s got a target on her back as far as the scouting report,” Staley noted, acknowledging that opposing teams are intensifying their defensive focus on the standout forward.

Staley observed missed layups and increased pressure on defense, prompting her to reassess Kitts’ performance. Despite the extra challenges, Kitts still managed to contribute significantly, finishing with 14 points and 7 rebounds in the Gamecocks’ dominant 95-44 victory over the Pirates. It would be interesting to see if she could impress Staley in the next game when the Gamecocks step out to play against Clemson on November 20, Wednesday!