USC guard JuJu Watkins returns from ACL tear, scores 53 points in two games
The gist
USC guard JuJu Watkins returned after 588 days out with a torn ACL, scoring 21 points.
Her comeback lifts No. 3 USC's title hopes and precedes a WNBA draft decision.
How it unfolded
- Mar 24, 2025Watkins suffered a torn right ACL in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, crumpling to the ground grabbing her right knee and being carried into a tunnel at the Galen Center.
- Sep 28, 2025Watkins announced she would not compete during the 2025-26 season to focus on recovery.
- Oct 25, 2026Watkins ran to the locker room with teammates before a USC exhibition game against Cal at Galen Center.
Key terms
- ACL
- A knee ligament that can be stretched or torn, often along with other knee structures.
- WNBA draft
- An annual event where WNBA teams select new players from a pool of college and professional women's basketball players.
- AP National Player of the Year
- An annual award from the Associated Press honoring the best men's and women's college basketball players in the United States.
Source: Wikipedia