USC women’s basketball standout JuJu Watkins suffered a serious-looking knee injury Monday during her team’s NCAA Tournament second-round matchup against Mississippi State at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
With her top-seeded Trojans leading 13-2 in the first quarter, Watkins tried to attack the Bulldogs’ defense in transition. The USC star’s right knee appeared to buckle as she attempted to squeeze her way between a couple of defenders.
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
Two USC staffers lifted Watson off the floor and into the locker room to receive medical attention.
Here’s a closer look at the play that injured Watkins.
I don’t like the buckle of the right knee with the foot strikes the ground for Juju Watkins
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) March 25, 2025
Fear would be for an ACL tear pic.twitter.com/FCbaHedql5
Watkins was unable to return to the contest. She finished with three points, a rebound, and two assists in five minutes of action.
Despite losing their top scorer, USC still blew out Mississippi State in a 96-59 contest. Watkins’ co-star Kiki Iriafen stepped up with 36 points on a stellar 16/22 shooting clip.
USC entered this year’s NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. Watkins’ star power was a big reason why. In 32 regular season games, Watkins averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks. The do-it-all guard had a game-high 22 points in the Trojans’ first-round win over UNC Greensboro.
