Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
Heartbreaking losses are plentiful in March Madness, but so are pivotal injuries for basketball’s rising stars.
Sadly, that occurred on the women’s side of the tourney as the USC Trojans took on Mississippi State to finalize the teams that would make the Sweet 16 in the Spokane Regional 4 round.
Hoping this JuJu Watkins injury is not serious, this is the full speed live cam pic.twitter.com/hyAfmUuM4z
— CJ Fogler
(@cjzero) March 25, 2025
As USC star JuJu Watkins drove down the court for a fast break early in the first half, two Mississippi State defenders attempted to guard her from both sides. Then, suddenly, the ball flew out of bounds as the sophomore fell to the court and grabbed her right knee.
USC star JuJu Watkins is carried off the court after suffering an apparent right knee injury while being fouled on a transition play pic.twitter.com/ZIUXls0jl6
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) March 25, 2025
She grimaced in pain as her teammates surrounded her, and the stunned crowd immediately fell silent. Watkins could not get up on her own, so USC training staff eventually carried her to the back for a medical evaluation.
A slowed-down version of the injury appears to show that the defenders made little to no contact with her knee, and her leg seemed to buckle beneath her before going limp.
My shaylaaaaaa wtf life is cruel, she better be okay
#jujuwatkins #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nLvyVdnc4J
— zig (@zigjs7) March 25, 2025
While it has not been confirmed, social media is fearing that she may have suffered a season-ending ligament tear.
See how March Madness fans are reacting to the injury below.
This story is still developing.