JuJu Watkins, one of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball, led USC into the NCAA Tournament as a top-seeded team. As a result, the Trojans hosted regional games during the opening weekend, including a Monday night showdown against 9-seed Mississippi State from the SEC.
The game began dominantly for USC, jumping out to a 17-2 lead, with Watkins contributing three points from the free-throw line. However, her night and season took a heartbreaking turn when she suffered a serious knee injury in the first quarter.
While sprinting on a fast break, Watkins went down between two Mississippi State defenders, immediately clutching her right knee in visible pain. The injury was severe enough that two trainers had to carry her off the court and take her straight to the locker room.
Late Monday night, the Trojans announced that Watkins had suffered a season-ending injury to her right knee, bringing her incredible season to an abrupt halt. While USC cruised to a dominant 96-59 victory, her absence is a devastating setback for both the superstar guard and a team with championship aspirations.
Watkins sustained the injury during the NCAA Second Round and will soon undergo surgery, followed by a rehabilitation process in the coming weeks.
JuJu Watkins was the driving force behind USC’s Big Ten regular-season title, leading the conference with 23.9 points per game—good for fifth nationally. The standout freshman earned B1G Player of the Year honors and is poised for more first-team All-America recognition after securing the same distinction last season when she finished second in the nation in scoring, trailing only Caitlin Clark with 27.1 points per game.
With Watkins on the court, USC was a legitimate national title contender, capable of competing with powerhouses like South Carolina, Texas, UConn, and UCLA. However, without her, the road ahead becomes significantly more challenging for the Trojans.
In the Sweet 16, USC will take on 5-seed Kansas State. A victory would set up an Elite Eight matchup against the winner of Oklahoma vs. UConn.
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