USC’s women’s basketball team suffered a huge setback when their star player, JuJu Watkins, tore her ACL in her right knee during their NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi State (ESPN, 2025). The injury happened in the first quarter when Watkins drove to the basket and collided with a defender. She had to be carried off the court and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament (ESPN, 2025). This is a big loss for USC. Watkins has been one of the best players in the country, averaging 24.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She helped USC finish with a 29-3 record and win the Big Ten regular-season title (New York Post, 2025).
Even without Watkins, USC stayed strong and won 96-59 against Mississippi State, advancing to the Sweet 16. Kiki Iriafen played a key role, scoring a career-high 36 points to lead the team to victory (Associated Press, 2025). Now, USC will face Kansas State in the next round. Without Watkins, the tournament will look very different. Her injury makes it harder for USC to win, and it could help other top teams, like UConn, who are now more likely to reach the Final Four. UConn’s star player, Paige Bueckers, may have an easier path with USC not at full strength (CT Insider, 2025).
Many people in the basketball world have shown support for Watkins. Players, coaches, and fans have shared messages online, wishing her a fast recovery and recognizing how much she means to the sport (New York Post, 2025). USC’s head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, said the team is staying strong and focused on their goal of winning a championship. Now, USC will have to rely on players like Iriafen to step up and keep their title hopes alive (Associated Press, 2025).
With Watkins out, USC has a much tougher road to winning the national championship. Meanwhile, teams like UConn have a better chance at taking the title (Yahoo Sports, 2025). JuJu Watkins’ injury has changed the tournament and made things much harder for USC. The Trojans will need to come together and fight through this challenge if they still want to win it all.
Works Cited
ESPN. (2025, March 25). JuJu Watkins suffers torn ACL, out for remainder of NCAA Tournament. Link
New York Post. (2025, March 25). Basketball world gutted by JuJu Watkins’ scary knee injury. Link
Associated Press. (2025, March 25). USC’s Kiki Iriafen steps up in dominant win over Mississippi State. Link
CT Insider. (2025, March 25). Juju Watkins’ injury reshapes NCAA Tournament path for UConn. Link
Yahoo Sports. (2025, March 25). March Madness 2025: UConn now title favorite as USC’s odds worsen. Link
