USC’s March Madness Nightmare: JuJu Watkins’ Devastating ACL Tear Ends Championship Dreams
In a gut-wrenching twist of fate, USC’s shining star, JuJu Watkins, will miss the rest of the NCAA tournament after tearing her ACL in a heartbreaking moment against Mississippi State. The injury, which silenced the Galen Center and sent shockwaves through the college basketball world, has derailed the Trojans’ title aspirations and left fans in disbelief.
Watkins, the driving force behind USC’s dominant 29-3 season, went down just five minutes into the game as she drove to the basket on a fast break. As she planted her right foot, her knee buckled, and she collapsed to the floor in agony. The entire arena held its breath as the AP All-American clutched her leg, staying down for over a minute before being carried off by trainers.
The Trojans would go on to demolish Mississippi State 96-59, but the victory felt hollow. Even as Kiki Iriafen dropped a season-high 36 points to propel USC into the Sweet 16, the energy in the building had shifted. Mississippi State was relentlessly booed every time they touched the ball, and their cheerleaders weren’t spared either, facing a hostile crowd that was seething with frustration.
“She’s the key for us. We didn’t want to let her down,” Iriafen told ESPN. “We just want to keep dancing, so whatever it takes is what I wanted to do. I think it just shows our toughness.”
The news of Watkins’ season-ending surgery is a crushing blow not just for USC, but for women’s college basketball as a whole. Averaging 24.6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, Watkins was a legitimate contender for National Player of the Year and the heart of USC’s championship hopes. The Trojans, who earned a No. 1 seed for the first time in years, were primed for a deep tournament run, potentially setting up a revenge showdown against UConn and Paige Bueckers in the Elite Eight.
But now, the road looks different. Can USC rally without their leader? Can they defy the odds and keep the dream alive? Or has March Madness just claimed its biggest casualty yet?
