BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Moment of Triumph for Chloe Kitts
In a pivotal moment during the game, South Carolina’s head coach Dawn Staley orchestrated the final offensive play with a clear objective in mind: to get the ball into the hands of Chloe Kitts. The 6-foot-2 junior post had emerged as South Carolina’s most effective offensive asset during the fourth quarter, contributing eight of her 14 points in that crucial stretch. However, when it came time to step up for the final two points, Kitts hesitated.
As the team exited the huddle, Kitts turned to point guard Ta-hina Paopao and implored, “Can you get the ball? Can you get the ball?” Taken aback by her request, Paopao responded, “Girl, what? Go get the ball,” encouraging her to embrace the moment.
With determination, Kitts took the initiative, received the ball, and was quickly fouled, leading her to the free-throw line with her nerves at an all-time high. Despite being an accomplished free-throw shooter—having made 5 of 8 attempts prior and boasting an 81 percent average for the season—the weight of the moment was overwhelming. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at her father, Jason Kitts, who was anxiously watching from the stands.
As she prepared to shoot, her teammates rallied around her with words of encouragement. Bree Hall, positioned at the line for a potential rebound, reassured her, “You’re unshakable. You got this.” Sania Feagin chimed in, advising her to take a deep breath. Kitts heeded their support, stepped up, and confidently sank both free throws. Moments later, top-seeded South Carolina triumphed over second-seeded Duke with a score of 54-50, securing their fifth consecutive trip to the Final Four. For Kitts, this victory felt particularly significant.
“It feels amazing because I feel like I worked so hard, and my process is different. … I’m just so thankful to be in that position at the end of the game to go to the Final Four,” Kitts reflected, her voice filled with emotion.
As the South Carolina team celebrated their Elite Eight victory, the atmosphere was electric. Players danced together, snapped photos with their families, and even Coach Staley took a moment to humorously sign a baby’s bottom.
Amid the jubilation, Kitts made her way through the crowd, seeking out her mother and father first to share in the moment. She embraced parents of her teammates, cut down her piece of the net, and then ventured to the stands where she interacted with fans who had cheered behind South Carolina’s bench. One particularly endearing moment saw her holding a child while capturing a photo, evoking the image of a political candidate meeting constituents—and Kitts relished every second of it.
“The fans mean so much to me. Those little boys and little girls look up to us,” Kitts expressed, her gratitude evident.
It’s not just the fans who see Kitts as a role model; her teammates do as well. When she chose to forgo her senior year of high school basketball to enroll early at South Carolina, Kitts was aware that the transition to collegiate play would be challenging.
“She probably thought it was the worst decision that she made when she was going through it,” Staley remarked, recalling Kitts’s early struggles.
During that time, Kitts had the opportunity to learn from seasoned players like Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso, who were integral to South Carolina’s stacked rosters that reached the Final Four. The question was never about Kitts’s talent; it was about her adjusting to the high standards at South Carolina and maturing in the college game. Once she found her footing, everything began to align.
Last season, she played a crucial role in the national championship team, starting in 31 of 37 games. This season, however, presented her with the challenge of stepping into a larger leadership role following Cardoso’s graduation. Now, she and Feagin are the leading post players on the team.
Kitts is currently averaging a career-high 10.3 points per game, but her true impact lies in her calming presence. She has a unique ability to soothe her teammates during tense moments and maintains a light-hearted atmosphere behind the scenes.
“What I really like about Chloe is, you know, whether she makes you laugh at something or she says something off the wall, it’s her. She is comfortable in her skin,” Staley noted.
On the court, while Kitts may feel anxious internally, she does not show it outwardly, which in turn helps to relax those around her. Her consistency has been a stabilizing force for the team, as she has scored in double figures in 23 of her 35 games and has achieved that milestone in 10 of the last 11 games.
“For her to step up and do what she’s been doing the last month, it’s been great to see and play with because we know we will get that from her every night,” Paopao commented, praising Kitts’s growth.
The key to Kitts’s success is her burgeoning confidence, and her teammates have noticed it blossoming with each game.
- “We had all the confidence in her, but we had to wait for her to feel that confidence in herself,” Paopao explained. “She’s going to be that great leader we need for the next two games if we are going to handle business.”
South Carolina’s coaching staff and players place immense trust in Kitts. As she approached the free-throw line for those decisive shots, she focused on the belief they had in her.
“My coach wanted me to have the ball at the end of the game because she knew I could make my free throws,” Kitts reflected. “I just told myself, ‘I’m really good at basketball.’”
(Photo: Greg Fiume / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
