The USC star, Juju Watkins, will oppose the 2025-26 university basketball season while she continues to recover from a tear of the right LCA that she suffered in the second round of the NCAA tournament, she announced on Sunday.
“In recent months have been filled with a lot of healing, rest and reflection,” said Watkins on his Instagram history. “The recovery of this injury was not easy, and I want to thank you – your love, your support and your friendly words really raised me during one of the most difficult moments of my life.
“Because you were with me at every stage, I wanted you to hear it directly from me by following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit this season and focus fully on the continuation of recovering so that I can come back to the game I love.”
Watkins collected an average of 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 interceptions in the second year on the way to win several players of the year and to become twice in the first All-American team. At 20, she is already widely considered as a WNBA perspective.
“The health and well-being of Juju is our absolute priority, and we fully support its decision to focus on recovery this season,” said USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, in a statement. “Although we will certainly miss her impact on the field, 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 that the Trojan family will continue to rally behind.
The 6 -foot 2 -inch goalkeeper catapulted his horses from the hometown in the national relevance as soon as she went up on the campus. She led USC as the PAC-12 2024 tournament and to the crown of the regular season of the Big Ten 2025, as well as the standard n ° 1 and Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
Watkins has reached 1,000 career points in 38 games, tied to the fourth fourth to reach the brand of the history of division I.
The USC will not only have to face the absence of Watkins, but resets after the departures of Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen (graduation) plus Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel (Transfers). But the Trojan horses will bring the recruit n ° 1 Jasmine Davidson to help soften the blow.
“I am delighted to continue putting the work to come back even stronger,” wrote Watkins.
