Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks triumphed over the Sooners by a significant margin, advancing to their sixth consecutive SEC Tournament title game.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Chloe Kitts candidly addressed a question during South Carolina’s postgame press conference following their victory against Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, much to the amusement of Dawn Staley.
Kitts, a junior for the Gamecocks, was questioned about her impressive fourth quarter against the Commodores, where she scored a career-high 25 points along with 10 rebounds.
She responded, leading to a mix of awkwardness and laughter.
KITTS: “I was just going out there and playing confident. My coaches, and the point guard, kept saying ‘14,’ which is kind of get the ball to me. I just delivered. I was just going out there.”
STALEY: “Thanks.”
KITTS: “What?”
STALEY: “You just told them our play.”
KITTS: “Sorry.”
Chloe Kitts had a career-high 25 points today… and also accidentally gave away a South Carolina play call pic.twitter.com/3lx8j05OjE
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) March 7, 2025
However, if Oklahoma was tuned in, they didn’t seem to take notice.
South Carolina decisively defeated the Sooners, winning 93-75, thereby securing a spot in the SEC Tournament title game for the sixth consecutive year. Kitts contributed again, scoring 10 points, grabbing four rebounds, and providing four assists in just 17 minutes of play. Her defensive efforts were crucial in limiting Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, an All-American, to only seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Kitts is enjoying her best season yet with South Carolina, averaging 10 points, 7.8 rebounds, and two assists per game. Despite her slip-up in the press conference, Staley praised the 6-foot-2 forward from Florida.
“I mean, this is really who Chloe is. She’s starting to play very consistent basketball. She wants the ball in her hands. She wants to be a play-maker. She wants to be the one that can score it or dish it to a teammate… Chloe is strong enough mentally, physically to be able to handle the rigors of this league.”
Kitts’ performance — along with her newfound consistency — further highlights the depth of the Gamecocks’ roster. As March Madness approaches, she is beginning to stand out. In her last six games, she’s averaging 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 63.2 percent from the field.
This humorous moment in the press conference, coupled with her performance in the game, underscores South Carolina’s status as a legitimate contender for the national championship once again. Even when the Gamecocks inadvertently disclose their play calls, they remain a formidable opponent.
