Inside the Injury Shake-Up and Transfer Shock Shaping Women’s College Hoops 2025-26
It was a gut punch for the South Carolina Gamecocks when forward Chloe Kitts suffered a season-ending torn ACL in her right knee, ruling her out for the entirety of 2025-26. After averaging a career-high of 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds across 38 games last year, including earning MVP honors in the SEC tournament, Kitts had become the steady inside presence this team leaned on. Her absence leaves a massive void not just statistically, but in terms of leadership, chemistry, and the physicality South Carolina has relied upon. Head coach Dawn Staley called Kitts “irreplaceable,” a tough reality for a program used to dominance in the paint. Now the Gamecocks must reconfigure their rotation and front-court strategy, perhaps leaning more on younger can-do players or shifting emphasis to perimeter play. Without Kitts’ inside scoring and rebounding, this might open the door for more versatile lineups, but it also invites risk. The senior’s injury means that tip-off in November won’t just mean a new season; it means South Carolina must re-find its identity.
Backcourt Setback at Kentucky: Dominika Paurová Costs Two Years
Meanwhile, over at the Kentucky Wildcats, guard Dominika Paurová has endured heartbreaking luck; now sidelined for the second consecutive year after another ACL tear. In her freshman run at Oregon State, she averaged 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 48% from the floor and 37.2% from three. She was expected to be a piece of Kentucky’s backcourt puzzle this coming year, a player with international experience and upside. Now the loss of Paurová robs head coach Kenny Brooks of a developmental guard who could’ve taken the next step. With her gone, the Wildcats must revisit their guard depth chart, and both recruiting and portal strategies may shift to compensate. Kentucky may lean heavier on established veterans or hunt for immediate impact transfers. For the athletes on that roster, it means freshmen and sophomores must be ready to accelerate their learning curve, and there will likely be growing pains early in the season.
Transfer Swing and Tips for the Season Ahead: Olivia Miles to TCU Horned Frogs and Early Predictions
On the brighter side of roster movement, guard Olivia Miles has made the jump to TCU after a standout tenure at Notre Dame, where she averaged 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists last season and earned second-team All-American honors. Her arrival instantly adds elite playmaking and scoring to the Horned Frogs, elevating their Big 12 and national title ambitions. Meanwhile, programs like South Carolina and Kentucky must adapt without Kitts and Paurová, relying on depth, coaching ingenuity, and perhaps additional portal adds to fill the holes. In my opinion, South Carolina will still contend for the SEC crown, but expect more variability early as they adjust their front-court system and find new go-to options. Kentucky might face a steeper hill, likely finishing slightly below their pre-injury expectations, but still in tournament contention with growth potential. As for TCU, I expect them to make a jump, perhaps cracking the Top 10 and contending for a Final Four berth; Miles’ impact is that significant. In short, when tip-off hits in November, we’ll see programs tested not just by opponents, but by their ability to respond to change and stay resilient.
