JuJu Watkins injury status: What we know about USC star’s torn ACL and when she could return to the courts

USC talent JuJu Star has suffered an injury that is set to end her season, according to the latest reports.

The 19-year-old went down in the game against Mississippi State, with reports emerging shortly after she was taken off the court that the issue was a worst-case scenario: a torn ACL.

Her fall came just five minutes into the game that saw her side eventually power to a 96-59 win, putting USC into the Sweet 16; a team spokesperson said afterwards that Watkins will now undergo season-ending surgery before embarking on what is set to be a long process of rehabilitation.

'I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu crying'

The injury came when Watkins sprinted down the court on a fast break from her side. As she skipped between two defenders, she was fouled, causing her right knee to buckle underneath her as she planted her foot on the court. She remained grounded for over a minute as medical staff rushed on to administer treatment. Fans grimaced collectively as she cried in pain.

USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb admitted after the game that “I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the floor crying. This is a human game and so I obviously tried my best to be what I need to be for the team, but internally it’s a lot.”

“You can’t tell me that the energy of the crowd and how angry they were with the other team and how much they were for our team is so much about what JuJu has given to this arena, to this program, to this city", she added. “We know that we’ve got no punks in our locker room, that we have a team that’s going to step up. This team rallied, they rallied for [Watkins], they rallied for each other."

“Obviously just heartbroken if there’s a serious injury for JuJu, but at the same time, I hope she can at some point see just the significance that she has here that goes so far beyond just her talent and abilities. I mean that’s really what is generational about it, the way she’s galvanized everyone”, Gottlieb concluded.

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Watkins, prior to her injury, was putting up an average of 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season and was the main cog in the machine that saw her side go 30-3.

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