Southern California Trojans superstar JuJu Watkins will miss the 2025-26 college women’s basketball season as she continues to focus on her recovery.
Watkins announced the news Sunday evening.
‘These last few months have been filled with a lot of healing, rest and reflection,’ Watkins said in an Instagram story and in a USC press release. ‘Recovering from this injury hasn’t been easy, and I want to say thank you — your love, support and kind words have truly lifted me up during one of the most challenging times in my life. Because you’ve been with me every step of the way, I wanted you to hear it from me directly that, following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love.’
Watkins had her postseason cut short after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during an NCAA Tournament second-round game against Mississippi State on March 24, 2025.
The guard was injured on a fast break when she planted her leg down and her knee gave out while attempting to cut to avoid a defender.
She finished last season with several accolades, including the Women’s Wooden Award and Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year honor.
She also became the first Division 1 player to record at least 35 points, five blocks and five assists in a game in the past 20 years.
The junior ranks among the top 10 in several statistical categories in USC’s record book. She is ninth in scoring with 1,709 points, sixth in free throws made (459) and 10th in blocks (114).
‘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 in the release. ‘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.
What is the timeline for an ACL tear?
Gottlieb spoke with the media earlier this month but did not provide a timetable for Watkins’ injury.
Watkins suffered her ACL tear in late March 2025 and underwent surgery on her right knee.
The recovery timeline for the injury varies, but a minimum of nine months to a year is usually necessary for an athlete to thoroughly complete the rehabilitation process before attempting to return to action.
Could JuJu Watkins enter the WNBA draft in 2026?
Watkins won’t be eligible for the WNBA draft until 2027.
According to the WNBA’s rules, a domestic draft entrant must be “at least 22 years old during the year in which the draft takes place and to have no remaining college eligibility or to renounce any future college eligibility.”
Watkins will likely treat the 2025-26 season as a redshirt year and have two years of eligibility remaining.
The USC guard has the potential to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft when she decides to enter, but her injury could be a cause for concern.
An ACL injury was not a concern for the Dallas Wings, who drafted Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Bueckers suffered an ACL in 2022 before returning to UConn to play two more seasons.
JuJu Watkins stats
- 2023-24: 27.1 points on 40.1% shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.6 blocks per game
- 2024-25: 23.9 points on 42.6% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.8 blocks per game
When is USC women’s basketball season opener?
The Trojans will open the season at home against New Mexico State on Nov. 4.