USC Star JuJu Watkins Seen Shooting 1 Year After ACL Injury

Watkins plans to sit out 2025-26 season to fully focus on recovery

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:41pm

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An abstract, cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of orange, blue, and green, representing the movements and actions of a basketball player in a fragmented, deconstructed manner.A cubist interpretation of a basketball player's movements captures the fragmented nature of the sport and the challenges of recovering from a major injury.Los Angeles Today

Women's college basketball lost one of its biggest stars when USC guard JuJu Watkins suffered a torn ACL during the NCAA Tournament on March 24, 2025. Last September, Watkins announced her plan to sit out for the entire 2025-26 season to fully focus on continuing to recover on the advice of her doctors and trainers.

Why it matters

Watkins was a rising star in women's college basketball, and her injury was a major setback for the USC program and the sport as a whole. Her decision to sit out the season to focus on recovery is a testament to the importance of player health and safety, even for elite athletes.

The details

Watkins, a junior at the time of her injury, was a key player for the USC Trojans women's basketball team. She was averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game when she suffered the torn ACL during the NCAA Tournament. Watkins announced in September 2025 that she would sit out the entire 2025-26 season to focus on her recovery, following the advice of her doctors and trainers.

  • Watkins suffered a torn ACL on March 24, 2025 during the NCAA Tournament.
  • In September 2025, Watkins announced she would sit out the 2025-26 season to focus on recovery.

The players

JuJu Watkins

A junior guard for the USC Trojans women's basketball team who suffered a torn ACL during the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

USC Trojans

The women's basketball team that Watkins plays for at the University of Southern California.

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The takeaway

Watkins' injury and decision to sit out the season highlights the challenges elite college athletes face in balancing their health and recovery with the demands of their sport. Her focus on fully recovering sets an important example for other players dealing with serious injuries.