Ashlyn Watkins has reportedly been charged with assault and kidnapping five months removed from her national championship win with South Carolina.
The forward helped the Gamecocks beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in last season’s national title game, playing 14 minutes, having averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds a game during the regular season.
According to online judicial records cited by the New York Post, the player was granted a personal recognizance bond of $30,000 and ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim whatsoever.
The victim was not named.
Watkins cannot be within 1,000 feet of the victim’s home, workplace, school, or place of worship. But she would be allowed to travel out of state for basketball games and practice.
South Carolina womens basketball standout Ashlyn Watkins was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping following an incident Saturday on the schools campus, court records show. https://t.co/ucMP7OGliv
Not A Great Look For Ashlyn Watkins
South Carolina women’s basketball standout Ashlyn Watkins was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping following an incident Saturday on the school’s campus, court records show. https://t.co/ucMP7OGliv
— ESPN (@espn) August 31, 2024
WLTX-TV obtained the details of a warrant filed by the University of South Carolina Police Department, which notes that Ashlyn Watkins assaulted the victim by “forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her arms and pushing.”
It adds that she picked her up against her will and carried her, then “grabbed the victim’s head and forced her to walk down the hall, thus controlling her movement while preventing her from leaving.”
The victim is said to have pulled a fire alarm after breaking free, prompting the arrival of police and fire personnel. According to the warrant, she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A spokeswoman has told the Associated Press that the school is aware of Watkins’ arrest.
The 6ft, 3in junior led South Carolina with 91 blocks last season, playing an integral role as the Gamecocks became the first undefeated national champions since 2016.
