Ashlyn Watkins arrest: Dawn Staley says forward remains suspended after being charged with assault, kidnapping

South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins remains suspended from team activities after being charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping in August, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said Tuesday. 

"Status is still the same," Staley said of Watkins. "Nothing's moved yet, and we are not gonna move until her situation settles down a little bit. And that's out of her control and out of our control."

When asked how Watkins was holding up, Staley simply replied, "She's great."

The incident occurred at the student housing center at South Carolina, where Watkins allegedly "grabbed the victim's head and forced her to walk down the hall, thus controlling her movement while preventing her from leaving." 

Watkins is suspended from all team activities and missed the Gamecocks' visit to the White House on Sept. 10 as they celebrated their 2024 national championship win.

"We believe once everybody has a full grasp of what happened, this will end up being a misunderstanding," Watkins' attorney, Todd Rutherford, told CBS affiliate WLTX-TV.  "What we know for certain is that Ashlyn did not assault anyone and she did not kidnap anyone." 

Watkins was granted a $30,000 personal recognizance bond and was ordered to stay 1,000 feet from the victim's home, work, school and place of worship. 

Last season, Watkins averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.4 blocks. While she is suspended, Staley still sees Watkins as an important part of the team. When asked about leadership on the 2024-25 squad, Staley said several players will be involved, including Watkins when she returns.

"I think they'll take turns in voicing what needs to be said out there on the court," Staley said. " ... Ashlyn has a great voice in the locker room."