South Carolina women’s basketball: Chloe Kitts was benched in the Final Four last season, now she may be the Gamecocks’ most important player

South Carolina Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts (21) shoots a free throw against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

365 days ago, Chloe Kitts was essentially benched on what was, to that point, the biggest stage of her career. She played less than 12 minutes in the national semifinal win over NC State, and Ashlyn Watkins started over Kitts in the second half.

Kitts ended the game with four rebounds and a turnover. No points or assists, like she had barely played the game.

“(The NC State) game just motivated me, sitting on the bench,” Kitts said two days later. “I sat there because that’s what I deserved to do.”

Kitts turned that motivation into an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in the national championship game against Iowa.

“I wanted it so bad today,” she told me after the game. “I went out there and gave it my all.”

That version of Kitts carried over to this season. She began the year with consecutive 19-point double-doubles and then had a monster 21-point, 11-rebound game against Duke.

Since the loss to UConn, Kitts has ratcheted her play up to another level. In the 11 games since then, Kitts has six double-doubles, including a triple-double at Ole Miss.

She is averaging 12.8 points and has scored in double figures in every game except the blowout at Vanderbilt, when South Carolina rested its starters. Kitts is also averaging 8.8 rebounds and shooting 57.1%.

The awards are rolling in, too. Kitts was named SEC Tournament MVP and Birmingham Regional 2 MVP. She also earned an honorable-mention All-America recognition.

Kitts is back in the Final Four for the third time. She knows what it takes now, and her production reflects that.

“I don’t really think about last year besides winning the natty,” Kitts said. “What drives me is I want to win, honestly. I do remember that game, though.”

In South Carolina’s January win over Texas, Kitts went for 11 points and six rebounds. But in the rematch, she only had nine points and four rebounds, and Staley only played her 24 minutes because she didn’t trust Kitts in the fourth quarter.

That changed in Greenville when Kitts had 15 points and nine rebounds. Staley trusted Kitts to play smart basketball and use the size mismatch against Texas to her advantage.

South Carolina needs a similar performance from Kitts again on Friday. It’s a far cry from being benched in her first Final Four game.