USC superstar JuJu Watkins went down with a scary injury during the first quarter of the Trojans' second-round NCAA tournament game against Mississippi State Monday night. She was carried off the floor and couldn't bear weight on her right leg after a drive to the basket.
USC later announced that she was being further evaluated and would not return to the game. Watkins, one of the nation's best players and a top star across the sport, was named the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American for the second season in a row.
Support for Watkins immediately poured out following the heartbreaking injury. On the halftime studio show, ESPN's Elle Duncan summed up everyone's thoughts when she said the injury "not only changed the tenor of this game but potentially the tournament."
The sophomore is already beloved across the basketball world and destined to be one of the WNBA's next biggest stars. Some of the WNBA's current stars, including Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston and Breanna Stewart, posted support for Watkins following the injury:
Prayers for Juju! 🥺🙏🏽
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) March 25, 2025
Prayers up🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) March 25, 2025
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Stewie (@breannastewart) March 25, 2025
Sayin a prayer for her NOW
— Sydney Colson (@SydJColson) March 25, 2025
NO JUJU 😭
— Isabelle Harrison (@OMG_itsizzyb) March 25, 2025
CAMERA PPL, STOP HOVERING OVER PLAYERS WHEN THEY ARE IN PAIN!!!!!
— Dearica Marie Hamby (@dearicamarie) March 25, 2025
USC rolled against Mississippi State on their way to the Sweet 16. Now, everyone hopes Watkins's injury isn't as serious as it looked.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Devastated WNBA Stars Share Encouragement for JuJu Watkins After Scary Injury.
