People have been asking where Ashlyn Watkins was during the women’s basketball season, especially after her arrest for assaulting her girlfriend.
The incident, which happened in late August, started with an argument between the two.
Highlights
- With the women’s basketball season in full swing, fans wonder if Ashlyn Watkins is in prison, watching her teammates play from behind bars.
- Ashlyn Watkins was granted a $30,000 bond and ordered to make no contact with her juvenile girlfriend.
- Since her arrest, Watkins has not been with the Gamecocks and is suspended from all team activities until further notice.
And the details have been withheld, including the victim’s name and witness information.
According to the report, the victim initially told police multiple times that Watkins had hit her.
However, she later changed her statement, saying that Watkins did not hit her.
Watkins, on the other hand, told police she had gone to search for the victim, whom she referred to as her “girlfriend.”
Ashlyn Watkins Grabbed And Pushed Her Juvenile Girlfriend
With the women’s basketball season in full swing, fans wonder if Ashlyn Watkins is in prison, watching her teammates play from behind bars.
After her arrest for assault and kidnapping, there has been a lot of speculation about her current status and whether she’s still part of the team or serving time.
Two months ago, Ashlyn Watkins admitted grabbing her girlfriend and walking her outside.
Watkins claimed she wrapped her arms around the victim because she thought she might jump.
However, after speaking with everyone involved, police and EMS determined the victim (Watkins’s partner) was not suicidal.
The arrest warrants state she assaulted the victim by forcefully grabbing her face, pulling her by the arms, and pushing her.
Watkins also allegedly picked the victim up against her will, carried her away, and forced her to walk down the hall, preventing her from leaving.
Thus, Ashlyn Watkins was granted a $30,000 bond with the condition that she has no contact with her juvenile girlfriend and stays at least 1,000 yards away from the victim’s home, work, school, and place of worship.
Her attorney believes Watkins did not assault or kidnap anyone.
At the same time, folks asked what would happen if Zachary Davis, or any male athlete, were accused of doing the same thing as Ashlyn Watkins.
They point out that if a male were involved in a similar situation, especially with a minor, there would likely be more severe accusations, such as “statutory” charges and a public backlash.
What if Zachary Davis was accused of/did this exact same thing? What if he brought a female minor girlfriend on campus for the weekend? People would be using words like “statuatory.” In this age of “sameness,” Ashlyn Watkins should be treated equally.
Twitter User
Ashlyn Watkins Isn’t Warming Up For The WBB Season And Posts Rarely On Instagram
Ashlyn Watkins’ arrest likely resulted in an automatic suspension, following the pattern of previous USC student-athletes who have faced similar situations.
If South Carolina had Ashlyn Watkins back on the roster, they would win it for sure. Without her, it could be any number of teams.
Twitter User
Some fans have even speculated that Dawn Staley, the head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, might have to swallow her pride and bring Ashlyn Watkins back onto the roster.
After all, Watkins was a key player on South Carolina’s 2024 national championship team. She is known for her 6-foot-3 towering height and exceptional defensive skills.
Considering Ashlyn Watkins ‘ size and athletic ability, fans figured out how scary the situation must have been.
Given her physical advantages, it’s possible that the victim, who is likely much smaller, had to struggle just to get away and survive the confrontation.
With her size and strength, she really could’ve give her a more serious injury or even worse. I hope the victim receives any and all help
Reddit User
Ashlyn Watkins’ court date, initially set for October 25th at 10 a.m., has been rescheduled.
The new date for her case has not yet been confirmed, and fans are awaiting further updates on the situation.
Since her arrest, Watkins has not been with the Gamecocks and is suspended from all team activities until further notice.
The South Carolina head coach, Dawn Staley, stated that the team wouldn’t make any decisions regarding Watkins’ future with the team until her legal situation is settled, which is something out of both her and the team’s control.
In October, Ashlyn Watkins posted pictures on Instagram, suggesting she is not in prison. However, she is still prohibited from participating in games or team activities.
Additional Information
- Watkins started dunking in middle school while she was at Cardinal Newman.
- In March 2022, she won the Powerade JamFest dunk contest during her college career.
- On November 17, 2022, Watkins made a crucial steal in the closing moments of No. 1 South Carolina’s 85–31 win over Clemson.
