In a devastating turn of events for the USC Trojans, star player JuJu Watkins will miss the remainder of the women's NCAA tournament due to a torn ACL in her right knee. The injury occurred during the Trojans' second-round game against Mississippi State, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday night. A spokesperson for the team confirmed that Watkins will undergo season-ending surgery followed by a rehabilitation process.
Watkins suffered the injury just five minutes into the game, which saw USC dominate with a score of 96-59, advancing them to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. As she drove to the basket on a fast break, Watkins was fouled, and her right knee buckled when she planted her leg, causing her to collapse on the court. In visible distress, she immediately grabbed her knee and remained down for over a minute while the crowd at the Galen Center held its breath. Eventually, trainers had to lift her off the court and carry her into the locker room.
Before her injury, Watkins had not yet scored, going 0-of-2 from the field, but managed to contribute three free throws, one rebound, and two assists. At halftime, the team announced that Watkins would not return to the game after being evaluated by medical staff.
In the absence of their star player, Kiki Iriafen stepped up remarkably, scoring a season-high 36 points on an impressive 16-of-22 shooting, along with 9 rebounds. The atmosphere in the arena shifted dramatically following Watkins' injury, with the crowd vocally expressing their discontent toward Mississippi State, booing them whenever they had possession of the ball. The school's cheerleaders also faced the crowd's ire during their halftime routine, highlighting the emotional impact of Watkins' injury on both the team and the fans.
“She's the key for us. We didn't want to let her down,” Iriafen told ESPN after the game. “We just want to keep dancing, so whatever it takes is what I wanted to do. I think it just shows our toughness.”
JuJu Watkins had an outstanding season, averaging 24.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Her performance earned her recognition as an Associated Press All-American and made her a strong contender for the national player of the year title. Watkins was a key player in leading the Trojans to a remarkable 29-3 record this season, securing the fourth No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA tournament.
“This team rallied, they rallied for her, they rallied for each other,” said head coach Gottlieb, reflecting on the collective spirit of the team in light of the unfortunate incident. Last year, USC reached the Elite Eight in Watkins' inaugural season, ultimately losing to Paige Bueckers and UConn. There is a possibility that the two teams could meet again in a regional final in Spokane, Washington, later in the tournament.
The loss of JuJu Watkins is undeniably a significant blow to the USC Trojans, but her teammates are determined to continue fighting in her honor as they pursue success in the NCAA tournament.
