Los Angeles, California – The absence of JuJu Watkins, the star player of the University of Southern California (USC) women’s basketball team, has brought uncertainty to the Women’s NCAA Tournament. With Watkins out due to a knee injury requiring surgery, USC’s chances of advancing in the tournament are now under question.
The Trojans had been riding high on the back of their hometown hero, Watkins, who was the driving force behind their success this season. However, despite her absence, the team managed to win convincingly in the second round against Mississippi State. But it was clear that the loss of Watkins would be deeply felt.
“We need JuJu,” said Coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “She’s a special player and her presence makes us a more formidable opponent.” The team’s reliance on Watkins is evident, with coach Gottlieb stating that she’s been the differentiator between good and great for USC.
The injury has also cast a shadow over the tournament as a whole. The absence of top players like Watkins and Paige Bueckers in recent years has impacted the competition, making it difficult for other teams to fill the void left by their star players.
With Watkins’ injury expected to have a significant impact on the rest of the tournament, the NCAA must hope that another team can step up to fill the vacuum. The Trojans will need to rally around their injured star player and find ways to overcome her absence if they are to advance in the tournament.
As Coach Gottlieb noted, “You cannot tell me that the energy of that crowd and how angry they were with the other team and how much fired up they were for our team is so much about what JuJu has given to this arena, to this program, to this city.” The impact of Watkins’ injury will be felt far beyond this arena, and the Trojans must find a way to overcome it if they are to achieve their goals.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6228752/2025/03/25/juju-watkins-injury-usc-sweet-16