There is no denying that the star guard JuJu Watkins is one of the brightest WNBA prospects. On a night that should’ve been all about celebration, the USC Trojans’ dominant win over Mississippi State took a heartbreaking turn.
Watkins suffered a brutal-looking knee injury just minutes into the game. Now, with USC advancing to the NCAA Tournament, all eyes are on Watkins’ health.
JuJu Watkins Goes Down Hard
The energy at the Galen Center was electric—until it wasn’t. Just five minutes into the first quarter, Watkins, driving hard to the basket, collapsed to the floor, immediately clutching her right knee. The arena fell silent as trainers rushed over. The 6-foot-2 guard, who’s been carrying USC all season, grimaced in pain before being carried off the court straight to the locker room.
ESPN posted immediately on its Twitter, “JuJu Watkins was carried off the court and taken to the locker room after suffering an injury on this play.”
JuJu Watkins was carried off the court and taken to the locker room after suffering an injury on this play. pic.twitter.com/zFgm8PkVnu
— ESPN (@espn) March 25, 2025
It was a nightmare moment for the Trojans, who had dominated Mississippi State from the opening tip. With USC leading 13-2 at the time of the injury, the game itself became secondary.
After all, this is Watkins we are talking about, right? She is averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Basically, she is the heartbeat of the team.
Watkins Out for the Season Due to a Torn ACL
The basketball world held its breath for an update, and unfortunately, it wasn’t the one anyone wanted. NBA insider Shams Charania broke the devastating news on Twitter:
Breaking: USC phenom JuJu Watkins has suffered a torn ACL in her right knee, sources tell ESPN. She will undergo surgery. pic.twitter.com/2qMvpXTGwI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2025
Charania reported, “Breaking: USC phenom JuJu Watkins has suffered a torn ACL in her right knee, sources tell ESPN. She will undergo surgery.”
Just like that, Watkins’ season and likely her college career comes to a heartbreaking halt. A torn ACL means surgery and months of rehab, wiping out any chance of her returning for USC’s tournament run. It’s an absolute gut punch for a player who was on track to be a top pick in the WNBA Draft.
For USC, this is the worst-case scenario. Their championship hopes just took a massive hit, and now they have to adjust without their best player. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has a daunting task ahead of her now.
But make no mistake, Watkins’ future is still bright. She’s a lock-to-go pro whenever she declares. But for now, all she can do is start the long road to recovery. USC, meanwhile, has no time to grieve. Kansas State is next, and the Trojans have to find a way forward without their star.
