University of Southern California basketball star JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending leg injury during the Trojans’ NCAA Tournament victory Monday, the team announced.
“She will undergo surgery and then begin rehabilitation shortly thereafter,” the team announced on X, without specifying the nature of the injury.
The injury is an enormous blow to the championship hopes of USC, which won the regular-season Big Ten championship and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament thanks in large part to Watkins.
A sophomore sensation, Watkins averaged 24.6 points per game during the regular season to rank second in the country. USC has not advanced to a Final Four since 1986.
The injury took place with 4:43 to play in Monday’s first quarter against Mississippi State in the tournament’s round of 32.
Watkins writhed in pain and held her right knee after she fell during a fast-break attempt and had to be helped to the locker room. USC quickly announced that Watkins would not return to play after she was evaluated by the team’s medical staff.
After the Trojans’ 96-59 victory that sent them to the Sweet 16, coach Lindsay Gottlieb told reporters she did not have an update on Watkins but expressed concern for her star player.
“I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the court and crying,” Gottlieb said during a post-game press conference.
