USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins will miss the 2025-26 season to continue recovery from a torn ACL sustained during the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the university announced. The injury occurred in the second round against Mississippi State.
Watkins, the reigning AP National Player of the Year, joins an exclusive group of sophomores to receive the honor, alongside Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007), UConn’s Maya Moore (2009), and Breanna Stewart (2014). She is the first Trojan to win the award since its inception in 1995.
“JuJu’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we fully support her decision to focus on recovery this season,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “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.”
Prior to the injury, Watkins was averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. She currently ranks ninth on USC’s all-time career scoring list.
The Trojans, defending Big Ten regular season champions, have reached back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances.
