JuJu Watkins Exits NCAA Second Round With Injury

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

The unimaginable has occurred. USC Trojan star JuJu Watkins has exited the second-round matchup in opposition to Mississippi State after struggling a contact decrease leg damage.

USC Trojans Sophomore sensation JuJu Watkins has suffered an damage that occurred through the first quarter within the NCAA second spherical matchup. The incident occurred on the quick break, the place Watkins took a tumble between two defenders. With 4:43 remaining within the first quarter, Watkins instantly grabbed her proper knee. 

Grimacing in ache, Watkins spent a number of minutes screaming in agony with teammates close by, and was later carried off the ground and headed straight to the locker room. Watkins evening ended with three factors, two assists, and one rebound. 

Evaluated by USC Keck Medical Employees, Watkins has been dominated out for the rest of the matchup. Launched in an announcement by USC, “JuJu Watkins is being evaluated by USC Keck Medication workers and won’t return to competitors in tonight’s NCAA Second Spherical recreation.”

JuJu Watkins is being evaluated by USC Keck Medication workers and won’t return to competitors in tonight’s NCAA Second Spherical recreation.

— USC Ladies’s Basketball (@USCWBB) March 25, 2025

JuJu Watkins Damage May Be Devastating For USC

This can be a main blow to USC, because the basketball world awaits the extent of Watkins damage. Destined to satisfy No. 2 UConn within the Elite Eight, No. 1 USC will proceed to pursue their push for a NCAA Championship, with or with out Watkins. It will likely be fairly the rigorous schedule for USC, who will probably face No. 5 Kansas State within the Spherical of 16 in Spokane. Having misplaced to UConn within the Elite Eight final yr, the 2 groups might presumably nonetheless meet as soon as once more.

The Large Ten Participant of the Yr, Watkins is the guts and soul of this Trojans. A generational expertise on either side of the ball, Watkins averaged 24.6 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks on the season. A vital half to the Trojans success, the LA native was averaging 22 factors, 8.0 rebounds, two assists, and three steals via the NCAA match heading into tonight. 

USC Dances Into The Candy 16 With out Watkins

As for USC, the crew, followers, and coaches will proceed to actually round Watkins irrespective of the end result. Throughout halftime, Trojans head coach Lindsey Gottlieb launched a fast replace pertaining to her iconic participant. 

“She’ [JuJu Watkins] is getting seen by our nice medical crew. We have now a bunch, a fan base, and a crew that is going to have her again it doesn’t matter what,” Gottlieb informed ESPN.  “JuJu is the hardest child I do know and he or she’s gonna be good a method or one other.”

Though USC captured a dominating 96-59 victory over Mississippi State, all eyes stay on Juju Watkins. Per ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Watkins was wheeled out into the closest medical heart for additional analysis and an MRI.

Whereas the extent of the damage is unknown, the lack of JuJu Watkins is irreplaceable. The entire basketball world will hope for the very best consequence. Extra to come back on this breaking story. 

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a give attention to Ladies’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane presently resides within the Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma in Economics from the College of Connecticut.