Coach Ashley Woodard’s full circle journey fuels Gamecock softball success

In a season of remarkable achievements, the South Carolina Gamecocks softball team continues to capture attention with its impressive performance under first-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard.

South Carolina improved to 28-7 on the season with a 4-2 win over Wofford College in a midweek Palmetto State matchup. The night had an added layer of charm because it was also Bark in the Park, with fans and their dogs packing the stands in support. While the Gamecocks showed flashes of strength, the performance also revealed a few areas still in need of refinement.

Woodard acknowledged the team’s early lead but noted a sense of complacency that followed. 

“We won the game, found a way to squeak it by,” she said in a news conference afterward. “I felt like we just were a little complacent after the bottom of the first when we took the lead. Just could never get anything going again.”

She emphasized the pivotal role of the defense, particularly highlighting a crucial catch by center fielder Quincee Lillo in right-center as a game-defining moment.

This victory comes on the heels of a significant away series win against LSU. More impressively, the team has won the last three series, all against top 15 teams.

The Gamecocks’ performance has earned them unanimous Top 10 rankings across major college softball polls, with the D1Softball Poll placing them at No. 6. This year’s team has already surpassed last season’s win total with a month left in the regular season, reinforcing their status as one of the most improved teams in the nation, according to On3.

“Even though, luckily tonight, we didn’t have to learn a terrible lesson with a loss, but we learned, you know, we I think we learned a lot,” Woodard said. “We’ve got to stay hungry. … We’ve got to keep, like, expecting really high standards every time we play – you know, just to protect ourselves.”

Woodard is a former Gamecock herself. She pitched for the team from 2009 to 2011 before beginning her coaching career, including a stint coaching the German national team. This year’s success is something that she has prepared for on and off the field.    

“We won by two tonight just because, you know, we have talent,” she said. “… And it’s a fine line between, like, grace and humility and being really confident with where we’re at.”

The team proved their calmness under pressure last weekend when they traveled to Baton Rouge and swept a Top 5-ranked LSU team. 

“Really proud of that day as a whole,” Woodard said. “It was really exciting after the game, getting on the bus. … Those are the moments that, you know, you dream of, that you live for.”

Keeping the team focused with their recent success has been a challenge in itself. Woodard understands there’s only so much she can do as the coach.

She jokingly said she takes the team’s phones and doesn’t allow them on social media.

“I don’t think there’s a price tag on them feeling like they belong, which I think they do right now,” she said. “And, you know, my job is to keep them in that place, whatever that looks like.” 

That focus only gets more difficult as the season progresses, especially with fans taking an increased interest in the team.

With Gamecock men’s baseball team struggling at 20-14 and being unranked for the first time since 2019, softball has captured the attention of fans. Meanwhile, Dawn Staley’s powerhouse women’s basketball team remains in the national spotlight. But for the first time, softball is sharing that stage.

“I definitely feel the momentum and the support because people have been so gracious,” Woodard said. “… And to be in the conversation, with South Carolina baseball and South Carolina women’s basketball is, you know, it’s an honor. I mean, those programs are perennial.”

Woodard understands her role in propelling Gamecock softball to the top. And she does not shy away from those expectations.

“That’s why I was hired, to be honest,” she said. “… (Athletic Director Ray Tanner) hired me to change the program and, you know, I’m just pouring my heart into it every day. And our staff is doing a really good job of … trying to make it something people want to follow.”

Some fans say Woodard embodies the spirit of Gamecock Nation, making it easy for fans to embrace the team beyond their success.

“I’m kinda living my dream right now,” she said. “This place is home. And, you know, I’m biased, but I do think it’s … the best place in America.”

While coaching has been a big part of the team’s success, it would all be for nothing without the loyal fans. Attendance at the 1,277-seat Beckham Field has surged, with multiple sellouts this season, according to the USC Athletic Department.

Longtime supporter Emily Mack expressed her enthusiasm. 

“It’s incredible to see the energy and determination the girls bring to the field,” Mack said. “They’re making us proud every game. I first started following the team in 2018, but I’ve never seen this much buzz around them.”

The Gamecocks aim to keep their magical season rolling as they host No. 19 Ole Miss this weekend.

“We’ve got to put our best foot forward,” Woodard said. “You cannot play not your best ball and expect to win an SEC series at this point. I think that we will match up well, and we’ll give them a battle through the weekend.”

The series coincides with alumni weekend at home — a meaningful occasion for the program.

“We’ve got 75 alumni coming back,” Woodard said. “… We’re going to have a ton of support and excitement in this in the park and, you know, it’s going to be a hot one.”