USC Women's basketball star Juju Watkins It will skip the upcoming basketball season in college when she recovered from a serious knee injury, which she received during the NCAA tournament in March.
Watkins He said in the announcement On social networks, she planned to take the 2025-26 season in order to “completely focus on continuing the restoration so that I could return to the game that I love.”
“The last few months have been filled with a large amount of healing, rest and reflection,” Watkins said in his statement. “The uprising after this injury was not easy, and I want to thank you – your love, support and kind words really raised me to one of the most difficult times in my life.”
Watkins was in the midst of a second -year stellar season, when her knee fastened to the breastfeed in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The injury turned out to be a destructive blow in the hope of USC to the title as Troyans finally lost In the elite eight in Connecticut.
There was a glimpse of the hope that Watkins could return to a potential post -zone mileage in March 2026, throughout the year after its injury. Two surgeons -ordopeda told Times at that time that it would take more than 12 months to recover.
“In this process of restoration there will be many differences from person to person,” said Dr. Gabriella Oda, surgeon -Ortopoped, who is a team of the team in New York. “There is nothing bad even with a 12-month recovery. I want to be very clear in this. There are many people who take 12 months. ”
Any assumptions that Watkins can return earlier than on Sunday, more than a month before the start of the basketball season of the Women's College.
USC coach Lindsay Gotlib In his statement, he said that the program “will fully support its decision to focus on restoration this season.”
“Although we, of course, will be bored by her influence on the court, she continues to play a vital role in our program as a leader and teammate. The strength and maturity that she demonstrated in this process is a reflection of who she is. ”
Its effect will not be easily replaced. But the arrival of another better prospect, Jazzi Davidson, should help fill some voids.
“No one fills the Jujj shoes,” Gotlib said earlier this month. “These are unique shoes. But the fact that Jazzy can join our program and simply make a truly unique and incredible impression on everyone, rather wild. She is really very good. ”
For two seasons, Watkins was nothing more than a phenomenon, both on the site and beyond.
A native of Komton, Watkins, arrived at the USC in 2023, intended to help build a program, and for one season helped to turn the Trojans into national applicants for the title. Being a somersault, she received a wooden award, The Naismith Trophy, Big Ten Player of the Year and became the first USC player, when a liba -called player of the Associated Press of the year. She also attracted USC to the title of Big dozens in her first season at the conference, and yet she became the fastest Trojan for 1000 career points that she surpassed at the beginning of her second year.
Upon returning as a senior Watkins, he would still have been technically two years old. But the Trojan superstar will almost certainly announce the Wnba draft when it first suits in 2027.
