Ashley Chastain, UCLA vs South Carolina, Can She Do It?
When Ashley Chastain stepped into the head coach role at South Carolina, no one was talking about the Gamecocks making a Super Regional run, let alone hosting one.
Here we are. Year one. Super Regionals. The question isn’t “how did they get here?” It’s “who’s stopping them now?”
The truth is, Chastain didn’t just bring energy – she brought a whole new standard. A former Gamecock herself and one of the most respected pitching minds in the game, she’s turned a team that many overlooked into one that’s built on grit, precision, and belief.
Let’s talk about that belief for a second.
You can see it in the dugout. You can hear it in the way they talk to each other between innings. This team is dialed. They’re turning double plays like clockwork and pitching with ice in their veins. In the Columbia Regional, they allowed just three runs total. That’s not luck – that’s culture. That’s buy-in. And that’s 100 percent Chastain’s influence.
She’s reshaped the identity of this program from the inside out. South Carolina was known for flashes of potential in the past, but consistency? Not so much.
This year, they’ve become a team that plays clean defense, executes under pressure, and doesn’t blink when the game gets tight. That’s what makes them dangerous.
Now comes the real test. It’s one thing to win your regional. It’s another to go toe-to-toe with a program like UCLA. We’re talking about a team with 12 national championships and one of the most battle-tested coaching staffs in the country. The Bruins are the gold standard. Their resume speaks for itself. So the question becomes: can Chastain handle the chess match ahead? Can she outmaneuver a UCLA program that’s been here, done that, and written the postseason playbook?
I think she can.
Look, this matchup isn’t just about talent. It’s about tempo. It’s about confidence. And right now, South Carolina is riding a wave that only belief can build. Chastain has these players bought in on every pitch, every rep, every moment. That’s the kind of leadership that wins in May.
Whether they punch a ticket to OKC or fall short, what Chastain has done this season is nothing short of remarkable. She’s taken a team off the radar and put them right in the national conversation. She’s turned “maybe next year” into “why not us now?”
This is only the beginning. South Carolina isn’t just hosting UCLA – they’re announcing their arrival.
So bring the Bruins. Bring the cameras. Bring the pressure. The Gamecocks are just getting started.
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Katie Burkhart is a former professional softball pitcher and Arizona State University alumna, where she was a three-time All-American and led the Sun Devils to a national championship. She played professionally in the U.S., Japan, and Italy, and has coached at the Division I level. She now provides private pitching instruction and mindset training for athletes of all levels. Katie is also the author of Mental Muscle and Beyond the Game, books focused on athletic performance and life after sports.