JuJu Watkins Out For Season With Torn ACL: USC Trojans NCAA Tournament

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins suffered a non-contact right knee injury during the NCAA Tournament second round game vs. Mississippi State at Galen Center. Watkins tore the ACL in her right knee and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins during pregame warmup before an NCAA Tournament second round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

USC Trojans star guard JuJu Watkins suffered a non-contact right knee injury during the NCAA Tournament second round game vs. Mississippi State at Galen Center. Watkins could not stand up on her own and had to be carried off the court and straight to the locker room. Watkins appeared to be in extreme pain.

Watkins tore the ACL in her right knee and will undergo season-ending surgery.

Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) grabs her knee after falling to the floor during an NCAA Tournament second round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Watkins had three points, two assists and one rebound before the injury. ESPN reporter Holly Rowe gave an update on the ESPN broadcast.

"It's been kind of a wild emotional rollercoaster over here," Rowe said. "When the injury first happened, players came to the bench and kind of stunned and shocked and very upset. But they had to quickly regroup. (Coach) Lindsay Gottlieb took a big deep breath and then they got back to basketball. And that last time out, they are just talking about X's and O's."

"... One other note, I have seen quite a few people leave the stands to go back and check on JuJu, including the athletic director, Jennifer Cohen. Other people who I assume are medical personnel and team doctors, I'll keep you posted as soon as I know more," Rowe continued.

USC issued a statement on Watkins injury, per Washington Post's Ben Golliver: "JuJu Watkins is being evaluated by USC Keck Medicine staff and will not return to competition in tonight’s NCAA Second Round game."

Mar 8, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South California Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) attempts a free throw against Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images / Stephanie Amador Blondet-Imagn Images

Without Watkins, the Trojans will rely on freshman guard Kennedy Smith and senior KiKi Iriafen. This season, Smith averaged 9.2 points per game and Iriafen averaged 18 points per game.

Before the Mississippi State game, Watkins was dealing with an ankle injury from USC's win on Saturday.

"I'm happy to report that JuJu did everything in practice yesterday in a 90-minute practice, and she did everything today in shoot-around," Report Holly Rowe said on ESPN before the game. "She looks great. She's ready to rock against Mississippi State."

This was a huge sigh of relief for USC fans ahead of the March Madness battle.

No. 1- seed USC cruised past No. 16 UNC Greensboro 71-25 on Saturday, with much thanks to Watkins who led the team with 22 points. A scary moment offered in the second half when Watkins exited the game and went into the locker room after rolling her ankle. She returned to the game and spoke about her ankle, and an apparent wrist injury, in the post game press conference.

"I don't know. I think, you know, it's the end of the season, body's a little banged up, but onto to the next. Nobody really cares, so onto the next," said Watkins after Saturday's game. "Oh yeah, I’m all good. Don’t worry."

Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins during pregame warmup before an NCAA Tournament second round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

MORE: USC Trojans Pushing To Flip 4-Star Texas A&M Commit Caleb Tafua

MORE: Updated Women’s Basketball National Championship Odds: USC Trojans, UConn, South Carolina

MORE: JuJu Watkins, Jayden Daniels Share Courtside Moment After USC Trojans' Win

The Trojans are looking for their first NCAA Tournament title since 1984.

USC was eliminated in the Elite 8 last year by the UConn Huskies, a team that they would face next in the Elite 8. Can USC get past UConn this season?

"USC is more than just JuJu," Rowe said before the game. "They have some really good players, Kiki Iriafen obviously averaging 18 points a game. She can board with the best of them. But they have also got Rayah Marshall. She is a senior that is doing everything for them defensively, and I think this is a team that is deeper than just JuJu, but they also have the transcendent player in the NCAA tournament, so I think they're in a good position."

First up, USC will face the Mississippi State Bulldogs on March 24 at 7 p.m. PT at Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. The winner will move on to the Sweet 16 against the Kansas State Wildcats and then a looming, potential rematch with UConn.

Mar 24, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) watches the clock run down during her last game at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

On December 21, then-No.7 USC upset then-No. 4 UConn, 72-70, in Hartford at the XL Center. It was USC’s first win over UConn in program history and Watkins led the team with 25 points.

What does Watkins think about a potential rematch with UConn and star Paige Bueckers?

"That's really cool," Watkins said. "We love competition. We got to match earlier in the season, so it'll be an even better matchup this time. We're better. They're better. So, yeah, it'll just be a great game."

USC would be smart to not overlook Mississippi State though. The Bulldogs are fresh off a win against the No. 8 California Golden Bears, 59-46, in which they flexed their defensive muscles. USC and Mississippi State tip off on March 24 at 7 p.m. PT

RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

•

USC Trojans Take Down Kansas In Close Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament Matchup

•

Charles Barkley Makes Bold Comments on Bronny James

•

USC Trojans Hosting Blue-Chip Recruits: Elbert Hill, Kodi Greene, Jett Washington

•

UConn Huskies' Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers Show Support for JuJu Watkins

•

USC Trojans vs. Kansas State Preview, Prediction, Betting Odds: NCAA Tournament