JuJu Watkins announced what many had long suspected Sunday, posting on social media that she will miss the entirety of the 2025-26 NCAA season. Watkins tore her ACL in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on March 24. A 12-month recovery timeline would have her back towards the end of the regular season and into the postseason, so the 20-year-old elected to eliminate the possibility of returning before the 2026-27 season.
These last few months have been filled with a lot of healing, rest and reflection, Watkins wrote. Recovering from this injury hasnt been easy, and I want to say thank you your love, support and kind words have truly lifted me up during one of the most challenging times in my life. Because youve been with me every step of the way, I wanted you to hear it from me directly that, following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love.
Watkins is already a two-time first-team All-American and won the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Awards in her sophomore season, when she averaged a conference-best 23.9 points per game and led USC to a Big Ten regular-season title. The Trojans were a No. 1 seed for the second straight tournament and ended their season in the Elite Eight for the second straight season.
JuJus health and well-being are our top priority, and we fully support her decision to focus on recovery this season, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said in the programs statement. While we will certainly miss her impact on the court, she continues to play a vital role in our program as a leader and teammate. The strength and maturity she has shown through this process is a reflection of who she is, and we know the Trojan Family will continue to rally behind her. We look forward to the day she returns to competition stronger than ever.
The 2025-26 USC roster will have a significantly different look, however. In addition to Watkins, four of their other rotation players from last season either graduated or transferred out. The new-look Trojans will be led by No. 1 recruit Jazzy Davidson, returning sophomore Kennedy Smith and Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn as they pursue a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
USC Trojans, Women’s College Basketball
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