When the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Selection Sunday, many fans eagerly anticipated a potential Elite Eight showdown between No. 1 USC and No. 2 UConn a highly awaited rematch between JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers.
In last year’s Elite Eight, Bueckers and the Huskies defeated Watkins and the Trojans 80-73 before advancing to the Final Four, where they were eliminated by Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. However, USC got revenge earlier this season with a 72-70 victory over UConn in December. While another March Madness clash between the two teams remains possible, it will be missing a key star Watkins suffered a season-ending injury during USC’s dominant 96-59 win over No. 9 Mississippi State.
Bueckers expressed empathy for Watkins, recalling her own struggles with injuries. “Your heart breaks for her,” Bueckers said on Friday ahead of UConn’s Sweet 16 matchup against No. 3 Oklahoma. “I know what it’s like to go through something like this, especially at such a crucial time when you’re competing for a national championship.”
Bueckers reached out to Watkins to offer support during her recovery. “I let her know I’m here for anything—whether it’s mentally, physically, or just to talk,” she said.
Bueckers can relate deeply to Watkins’ situation. After a stellar freshman season in 2021, where she earned AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year honors while leading UConn to the Final Four, injuries disrupted her next two years. She played only 17 games as a sophomore due to a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear, then missed her entire junior season after tearing her ACL in a pickup game.
Reflecting on her ACL injury in August 2022, Bueckers recalled feeling devastated and questioning why it happened. “You ask yourself a lot of unanswered questions,” she said. “But then you focus on your motivation, faith, and strength, knowing that every day that passes is one step closer to playing again.”
Bueckers returned in the 2023-24 season, playing a career-high 39 games and earning unanimous first-team All-American honors while leading UConn back to the Final Four. She is confident Watkins will have a similar comeback story. “JuJu has an incredible work ethic,” Bueckers said. “She’s going to approach this recovery process just as she approaches basketball with determination and intensity. It’s a setback, but she’ll be back stronger than ever.”
UConn’s Azzi Fudd, who tore her ACL in practice in November 2023 and returned this season, also shared words of encouragement. She recalled wearing a bracelet inscribed with “purpose” during her rehab, using it as a reminder to stay committed to her recovery. “I made sure that every part of rehab had meaning because I didn’t want to cut corners. I know JuJu will approach it the same way. It’s tough to see, but she’ll come back stronger.”
As the tournament continues, UConn is set to take on No. 3 Oklahoma, while USC will face No. 5 Kansas State in the Sweet 16.
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