Basketball
The atmosphere inside the Galen Center turned eerily silent Monday (March 24) night as USC Trojan’s brightest star, JuJu Watkins, went down with a frightening ACL injury in the first quarter of the Trojans’ second-round NCAA Tournament clash against Mississippi State Bulldogs .
The sophomore sensation, who had already been battling injuries, collapsed to the floor on a drive to the basket and had to be carried off after failing to put weight on her right leg. With USC eyeing a deep March Madness run, Watkins’ season ending injury has casts a shadow over their hopes.
Basketball Basketball World Sends Prayers for Watkins After Gruesome Scene
As Watkins lay on the court, clutching her leg in agony, concern spread like wildfire across the basketball world. USC later announced she was undergoing further evaluation and would not return for the remainder of the game, leaving fans and analysts fearing the worst—potentially a torn ACL, a nightmare scenario for one of college basketball’s brightest young stars. Later, USC confirmed that the young star has indeed suffered from the season ending ACL injury.
Fellow basketball stars, from WNBA legends to rising NCAA talents, took to social media to show support.
Angel Reese, the WNBA rising star was among the first to react, tweeting:
“Prayers for Juju! ????????????”
Prayers for Juju! ????????????
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) March 25, 2025
Aliyah Boston, another dominant force in women’s basketball, kept her message simple:
“Prayers up????????????????”
Prayers up????????????????
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) March 25, 2025
Six-time WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart echoed those sentiments with:
“????????????????????????”
????????????????????????
— Stewie (@breannastewart) March 25, 2025
Veteran WNBA guard Sydney Colson didn’t hold back her emotions, immediately writing:
“Sayin a prayer for her NOW”
Sayin a prayer for her NOW
— Sydney Colson (@SydJColson) March 25, 2025
LSU star Flau’jae Johnson, who has shared the spotlight with Watkins in college hoops, expressed her distress:
“I pray JuJu okay ???? hate to see it”
I pray juju okay ???? hate to see it
— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) March 25, 2025
WNBA analyst Ros Gold-Onwude also sent her support:
“Praying for good news and good health for JuJu Watkins????????”
Praying for good news and good health for JuJu Watkins????????
— Ros Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) March 25, 2025
Chiney Ogwumike, a former No. 1 WNBA draft pick and ESPN analyst, put into words what many were feeling:
“One of the brightest stars the game has ever seen… in a city known for making them. Sending JuJu love ????????????”
one of the brightest stars the game has ever seen… in a city known for making them.
sending Juju love ????????????
— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) March 25, 2025
Basketball USC Advances, but the Focus Remains on Watkins
Despite the emotional setback, the Trojans stayed locked in, storming to a 28-8 first-quarter lead and never looking back. Kiki Iriafen took over in Watkins’ absence, delivering a dominant 36-point performance with nine rebounds and two assists. USC crushed Mississippi State 96-59, securing a trip to the Sweet 16.
Watkins, who managed just three points, two assists, and one rebound before her injury, had already been playing through hand and ankle issues from USC’s first-round matchup.
Her injury is a devastating blow not only to USC’s championship hopes but to women’s basketball as a whole. Watkins, the Big Ten Player of the Year (2025) and a two-time Unanimous first-team All-American, has been the face of the sport this season, drawing national attention with her electrifying play. For now her injury is surely to change the trajectory of the entire NCAA Tournament.
Read More Mohammad Faisal