USC women’s basketball suffered a major blow as star guard JuJu Watkins announced she will miss the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn ACL during last spring’s NCAA Tournament. The news, which Watkins shared in an emotional post on social media on Monday, sends shockwaves through college basketball and dramatically alters the Trojans’ outlook for the coming year.
Watkins, a sophomore phenom who was widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the sport, sustained the injury late in USC’s Elite Eight matchup in March. While the Trojans were eliminated in that round, hopes were high for a deeper run this season with Watkins leading the charge. Instead, the program must prepare for life without its centerpiece.
In her announcement, Watkins wrote, “This is one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced, but I’m determined to come back stronger. I’ll be with my teammates every step of the way, just not on the court this year. Thank you to everyone who has supported me.”
The 20-year-old guard averaged 26.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game last season, earning consensus first-team All-American honors and helping lead USC to its deepest NCAA Tournament run in nearly three decades. Her explosive scoring and leadership made her a projected top WNBA draft pick in 2026.
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb called Watkins’ absence “heartbreaking for JuJu and our entire program,” but expressed confidence in the team’s resilience. “She’s an incredible competitor and will attack this rehab with the same intensity she brings to the game,” Gottlieb said.
Without Watkins, the Trojans will look to veteran guards and a highly ranked incoming recruiting class to shoulder the scoring load. Still, there’s no question her loss dramatically reshapes USC’s championship aspirations in the upcoming season.
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