South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has had assault and kidnapping charges against her dismissed

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Suspended South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins has had charges against her dismissed, according to online court records.

Watkins was charged with assault and kidnapping on Aug. 31. She was suspended from the university’s women’s basketball team and did not accompany her teammates to the White House in September to be honored by President Biden for their national championship season.

Court records showed Watkins’ charges were dismissed on Nov. 1.

FILE - South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins brings the ball against Arkansas during the... — FILE – South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins brings the ball against Arkansas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Feb. 29, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark.(Michael Woods | AP Photo/Michael Woods, file)

The top-ranked Gamecocks opened the season Monday night with a closer than expected 68-62 victory over Michigan in Las Vegas. They’ll get a tougher test next time when they face No. 9 NC State in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday.

Watkins was a big factor in South Carolina’s 38-0 national title season. The 6-foot-4 forward led the Southeastern Conference with 91 blocks. She averaged 9.2 points and was second behind WNBA first-round pick Kamilla Cardoso on the team with 7.4 rebounds per game.

She dunked once in each of her freshman and sophomore seasons, the first two dunks in the South Carolina program.

Watkins is expected to play an even bigger role with the team when she returns to the basketball court.

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