During the NCAA Tournament's round of 32, USC's women's basketball team faced a major upset beyond their 96-59 win against Mississippi State. JuJu Watkins, star sophomore of the USC Trojans, sustained a significant right knee injury, prematurely ending her season. During the game's first quarter, Watkins was injured on a fast-break attempt and had to be carried off the court. Later, a USC spokesperson announced that Watkins is slated for surgery, followed by rehabilitation, as NBC News reported.
Lindsay Gottlieb, USC's head coach, expressed her disquiet about the incident. "I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu lying on the floor and crying," she admitted in a post-game press conference, remarks that have been echoed across various news outlets, including CBS News Los Angeles. Watkins' prowess on the court is irreplaceable; she averaged 24.6 points this season, a staggering contribution that positioned her second in scoring nationally.
Repercussions of Watkins' exit were immediate with despairing silence enveloping Galen Center, the stark contrast to the earlier cheers that had filled the air. Mississippi State was faced with an uneasy reception after the incident, as boos cascaded down every time their team engaged the ball or their cheerleaders performed, as chronicled by AP News. USC players and fans felt the agony of losing such a significant figure in their team lineup.
Despite the setback, the Trojans remained focused on victory. Kiki Iriafen stepped up to the challenge, scoring a season-high 36 points, "They gave us a lot of energy, especially when things weren’t going our way at the beginning," Iriafen said, as per AP News. Watkins, who also experienced minor injuries earlier in the season, had been playing through pain, even limping on her left leg and wincing during USC's first-round triumph over UNC Greensboro.
Eyes are now on USC's forthcoming bouts as they forge ahead without Watkins, a driving force who had been instrumental not just to USC but to women's college basketball at large. This injury marks a pivotal point in the team's journey as they persist toward a potential future without their standout player. Watkins' previous comment, "It's the end of the season, body is a little banged up. On to the next. Nobody cares. I'm all good," hauntingly precedes this latest setback.
