South Carolina lifts Ashlyn Watkins’ suspension after charges are dismissed

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina has lifted the suspension of forward Ashlyn Watkins after assault and kidnapping charges were dismissed earlier this month.

Watkins had been suspended from team activities since her arrest on Aug. 31, although she was allowed to participate in classes.

The university issued a brief statement Wednesday saying that with the dismissal of the legal charges, Ashlyn Watkins returned to team activities on Wednesday, starting with practice. Court records showed Watkins’ charges were dismissed on Nov. 1.

Watkins had not trained with the team, was not among the group that went to the White House to celebrate the national championship last September and was not with the top-ranked Gamecocks on Monday night when they defeated Michigan 68-62 in Las Vegas to to open the season.

Watkins is a 6-foot-1 junior who plays above her height. She led the Southeastern Conference with 91 blocks last season and posted the only two dunks in program history, one apiece as a freshman and a sophomore.

Watkins is expected to take the 6-7 lead from Kamilla Cardoso, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder last year, who became a first-round WNBA draft pick of the Chicago Sky.

South Carolina will take on No. 9 NC State on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina.