USC’s JuJu Watkins Injured, Out for Season/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ USC star JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury during Monday’s NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State. The All-American guard collapsed after a non-contact play in the first quarter. Despite the loss of their leading scorer, the Trojans advanced to the Sweet 16.
JuJu Watkins Injury Quick Looks
- USC’s JuJu Watkins injured her knee in the first quarter.
- Non-contact injury occurred as she drove to the basket.
- Watkins had to be carried off the court by staff.
- She will undergo surgery and begin rehabilitation, USC confirms.
- The Trojans beat Mississippi State 96-59 to reach Sweet 16.
- Watkins averaged 24.6 points this season for top-seeded USC.
- She set a freshman national scoring record with 920 points in 2024.
- The Galen Center crowd booed Mississippi State after Watkins went down.
- Coach Lindsay Gottlieb and players were visibly emotional following injury.
- Malia Samuels also briefly exited with injury but later returned.
USC’s JuJu Watkins Injured, Out for Season
Deep Look
In a stunning blow to USC’s championship hopes, All-American guard JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday night during the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State. The injury occurred just minutes into the first quarter as the sophomore phenom drove to the basket, planting her right leg before collapsing in pain without contact.
Watkins immediately clutched her knee and was visibly distressed on the court as teammates and staff surrounded her. A hush fell over the Galen Center as head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and two trainers rushed to her side.
“I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu lying on the floor and crying,” Gottlieb said postgame.
Watkins was carried off the floor with USC leading 13-2. She recorded three points, one rebound, and two assists in just five minutes before exiting. A team spokesperson later confirmed that Watkins will undergo surgery and begin rehabilitation, officially ruling her out for the remainder of the season.
Despite the emotional loss of their star, the Trojans dominated Mississippi State, cruising to a 96-59 victory to advance to the Sweet 16.
“My prayers and thoughts are with JuJu,” said Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell. “You never want to see that happen to a player of her caliber. She means a lot to women’s basketball.”
Watkins, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, has been one of the faces of the sport since arriving at USC. Last season, she was the second-leading scorer in the nation with 27.1 points per game and set the national freshman scoring record with 920 points. This year, she averaged 24.6 points and started every game for the Trojans, leading them to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
USC reached the Elite Eight last year before falling to UConn and Paige Bueckers. A rematch in Spokane remains possible this year, though it will now come without the Trojans’ top weapon.
Watkins had recently been battling minor injuries, including a jammed hand and leg soreness during USC’s opening-round win over UNC Greensboro. After that game, she told reporters, “It’s the end of the season, body is a little banged up. On to the next. Nobody cares. I’m all good.” But Monday’s injury proved far more serious.
The atmosphere inside Galen Center shifted dramatically after Watkins’ fall. Mississippi State players were booed each time they touched the ball, and the school’s cheerleaders were jeered during their halftime routine. MSU guard Jerkaila Jordan, who scored 17 points, said she understood the emotion.
“They’re gonna stand behind their home team. They’re gonna go hard for JuJu,” Jordan said. “I couldn’t do nothing but respect them.”
USC guard Malia Samuels, who stepped up in Watkins’ absence, also took a hard fall in the second quarter. She was attended to by Gottlieb but eventually returned after signaling that she was okay.
“I was relieved to hear her say, ‘I’m good,’” Gottlieb said.
Despite the emotional weight of losing their star, the Trojans fed off the crowd and surged into halftime on a high note, with senior Rayah Marshall banking in a buzzer-beating three to give USC a 50-27 lead.
Kiki Iriafen, who stepped into a leading role, scored a season-high 36 points. “They gave us a lot of energy, especially when things weren’t going our way at the beginning,” she said.
The win sends USC to the Sweet 16, but their tournament path now takes on a far different tone without the player who helped define their season.
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