When USC sophomore guard JuJu Watkins went down with an obvious knee damage towards Mississippi State on Monday, she may need taken the Trojans’ title hopes together with her.
Halfway by way of the primary quarter with USC already main 13-2, Watkins drove up the courtroom towards two defenders following a Mississippi State turnover when she fell down and instantly clutched her proper knee.
After moments of laying down, USC workers assisted Watkins, who did not put any weight on her leg, off the courtroom.
USC Girls’s Basketball posted to social media, “JuJu Watkins is being evaluated by USC Keck Medication workers and won’t return to competitors in tonight’s NCAA Second Spherical recreation.”
The extremely adorned standout second-year guard led the Massive Ten in scoring this season, averaging 24.6 factors per recreation. Watkins was named 2024-25 Massive Ten Participant of the Yr as she guided USC (30-3) to consecutive NCAA Event No. 1 seeds for the primary time since 1982-84.
The Trojans did not really feel the consequences of Watkins’ absence towards Regional 4 – Spokane No. 9 Mississippi State, constructing a 50-27 lead after two quarters.
Per ESPN, the 23-point halftime lead was the second-largest for USC in an NCAA Event recreation in program historical past.
When you would not comprehend it from Monday’s rout, will probably be a serious blow to the Trojans’ title hopes if Watkins misses the remainder of the event. The identical could possibly be mentioned if any of the opposite greatest gamers on this yr’s championship contenders had been taken off their respective rosters.
However even in a state of affairs the place Watkins misses an prolonged time frame, her long-term outlook as a generational expertise will not change.
Simply take a look at UConn guard Paige Bueckers, who tore her ACL in August 2022 and missed all the 2022-23 season. She returned final season and led the Huskies to the Last 4. On Monday, Bueckers scored 34 factors towards South Dakota State as No. 2 UConn superior to the Candy 16.
Watkins’ damage is especially disappointing as a result of gamers like her should play on the most important phases. She’s a transcendent star who performs her greatest when the lights are brightest. It will be disheartening if Watkins was robbed of the chance to have a defining March second.
