As invited draftees entered the Barclay’s Center today, all cameras captured two people– Chloe Kitts and Collin Murray-Boyles. The power couple from the South Carolina Gamecocks entered the venue knowing Murray-Boyles could very well go as a lottery pick, and might land over 800 miles away in Toronto, Ontario. So, as the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced, “With the ninth pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors select Collin Murray-Boyles from the University of South Carolina,” he wrote his name in the Gamecocks history books as the first lottery pick since 2006. But as he went around hugging his mother, then his grandmother, and then Kitts, reality set in harder than what they had anticipated since April when he first announced his decision to move to the NBA. 

Although he mentioned how “South Carolina will always be home!,” he was ultimately leaving it to fly out to Ontario. And right when the ninth-overall pick shook his hands with Silver and went backstage for interviews, came another tear-jerking moment– A video montage of the Raptors rookie giving a shout out to the Gamecocks MBB’s No. 21:

“My girlfriend is Chloe Kitts. She’s on the university’s women’s basketball team. She’s been a big part of my growth, especially in the last year. She says she got me. She says she’s beat me so she’s taking it and running with it. She knows that I know she’s not better than me.” While the forward was busy keeping her tears from falling and laughing at the same time, how could her head coach Dawn Staley not give her own take on what just happened?

Right after the announcement that Staley was clearly watching at home, she tweeted, “Congrats @GamecockMBB @boyles_murray! And @GamecockWBB @chloe1kitts 🥰🥰🥰. Now sneaking out of town means you’ll be sneaking out of the country😩😩😩🤣🤣🤣”

Always playful on the surface, Staley knew about the two love birds who played for the university’s basketball programs. Not to mention, their celebrity-esque appearance in the Gamecocks Gala where the two turned heads. The pair made their relationship public in April 2024 and quickly became one of college basketball’s most recognizable duos. From red carpet moments to viral TikToks, their bond became part of the Gamecocks’ daily stories, both of love and basketball. Kitts even delivered a now-famous “That’s my man!” celebration after a win over Ole Miss—an instant fan favorite.

Kitts, a key figure in South Carolina’s undefeated 2023–24 national title run, remains in Columbia for her senior year, gearing up to lead another championship push. While her relationship with Murray-Boyles now enters a new, high-profile chapter—long distance, NBA fame, and the pressure of public attention. And that’s where the real pressure begins.

As Boyles Heads North, Kitts Faces the Pressure at Home—with Staley in Her Corner

Murray-Boyles will now be heading to Toronto to launch his NBA career. Averaging 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while earning second-team All-SEC honors, he is expected to contribute right away in the league. South Carolina men’s coach Lamont Paris praised his pro readiness: “He defends at an elite level. He knows how to play. If you need him to play soon, then you take him.” But this moment isn’t just about his next chapter—it’s about how Kitts handles hers.

A projected top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Kitts enters her junior season under the spotlight—not just as a national champion, but as a young woman balancing ambition, love, and expectations. And no one understands that balancing act better than Dawn Staley. 

Back in 2015, Staley told The Players’ Tribune, “If there were ever a secret to being a great coach, that’s it: the connection. I need to have a personal relationship with each player.” She doubled down: “I tell our recruits I can be better for you if you allow me in on all of your life—not just the basketball.”

It’s that emotional investment that’s made her one of the most successful and trusted coaches in the game. It’s how she helped shape stars like A’ja Wilson—not just as athletes, but as people. And yes, Staley even knew about Wilson’s relationship before it was public. So, when Staley posted that cheeky message about Chloe “sneaking out of the country,” it wasn’t just humor—it was insight. It was the voice of a coach who sees the full picture, who knows how quickly success, distance, and attention can shift a player’s focus.

The Raptors got their guy. The Gamecocks kept their anchor. Now comes the balancing act. And Dawn Staley’s message made one thing clear: all eyes are still on Chloe Kitts.