- Juju Watkins is likely one of the greatest gamers in faculty basketball since stepping foot onto the USC campus as a freshman final yr.
- Watkins tore her ACL early within the Trojans’ second-round win over Mississippi State.
- The Trojans nonetheless gained, however their championship hopes might be gone with Watkins out.
The USC Trojans are one of many prime groups within the ladies’s NCAA Event, and the principle motive for that’s Juju Watkins. The do-everything sophomore ahead is likely one of the prime gamers in faculty basketball, and arguably, a future WNBA star.
Nevertheless, the Trojans’ season now hangs within the steadiness as Watkins tore her ACL on Monday in USC’s second-round win over Mississippi State.
Watkins was damage within the first quarter of the highest seed Trojans’ 96-59 rout of the #9 Bulldogs.
Watkins’ knee buckled on a quick break, and she or he went down straight away, holding the knee. It didn’t look good from the second it occurred, and it was regarding that Watkins needed to be carried off the ground. However it didn’t delay the Trojans, who outscored the Bulldogs 28-8 within the first quarter, and rolled from there.
Ahead Kiki Iriafen picked up the slack from Watkins, dropping 36 factors on 16-of-22 capturing, together with 9 boards. Avery Howell got here off the bench with 18 for the Trojans, who held Mississippi State to 31.3% capturing from the ground and compelled 20 turnovers.
Nevertheless, the story of the sport was Watkins, who’s the principle pressure behind USC’s 2025 March Insanity odds. Watkins was the Large Ten Participant of the 12 months as she led USC to the Large Ten regular-season title.
She made her second unanimous All-America staff. Watkins can also be the favourite to win the Ladies’s Wood Participant of the 12 months award. The Los Angeles native was fifth within the nation with 23.9 factors, and she or he added 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks for the Trojans.
However Watkins’ season is over now, and she or he’ll have surgical procedure so she will begin her rehab as quickly as potential. Fingers crossed it should go effectively for her, however even within the best-case state of affairs, she’ll miss a few of subsequent season.
What Does This Imply for Watkins and the Trojans?
It’s robust on the Trojans, who had been one of many 4 #1 seeds and a staff with a sensible shot on the title, so long as Watkins was wholesome. Nevertheless, USC’s March Insanity odds have already dropped, and bookies are nonetheless attempting to determine the Trojan ladies’s Candy 16 odds towards #5 Kansas State on Saturday evening.
On the brilliant aspect, Iriafen additionally had an ideal common season and undoubtedly stepped up when Watkins went down.
But, she’s not Watkins, and if they will get previous the Wildcats, USC might be in for a rematch with UConn. The Trojans beat the Huskies 72-70 on the highway in December, and UConn will need their revenge.
As for Watkins, she is going to must be affected person earlier than returning to the courtroom. ACL accidents often take six to 9 months, relying on the individual.
At that fee, Watkins can be again by the point USC begins convention play subsequent season. However she may additionally take a medical redshirt yr and miss all of subsequent season. Watkins isn’t eligible for the WNBA Draft till she is 22 anyway, so there’s loads of time. She’ll undoubtedly be upset to overlook out on the remainder of the season, however Watkins has her whole profession in entrance of her at 19.
We count on her to be again stronger than ever after her rehab and want her all one of the best in her restoration.