JuJu Watkins Announces Season-Long Hiatus: The Harsh Reality of Recovery
Well, well, well. Just when USC fans thought they’d caught a break after watching their football team stumble through another “character-building” season, along comes another gut punch. JuJu Watkins, the basketball phenom who single-handedly put Trojan women’s hoops back on the map, announced Sunday that she’s sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. And honestly? It was probably the smart move, even if it stings like a missed free throw in March.
The 20-year-old superstar took to Instagram, because where else do athletes break hearts these days, to deliver the news that had USC faithful secretly dreading since that knee buckled in the NCAA tournament. “Following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover,” Watkins wrote, probably while USC’s athletic department collectively reached for the antacids.
Why Watkins Made the Right Call (Even Though It Hurts)
Look, nobody wants to hear about a rising star taking a year off, especially when that star happens to be the most electrifying thing to happen to USC basketball since… well, ever. But here’s the thing about ACL injuries that nobody likes to talk about: they don’t care about your timeline, your team’s championship aspirations, or your draft stock.
Watkins tore her ACL during the second round of the NCAA tournament against Mississippi State, a moment that probably still haunts USC fans more than Lincoln Riley’s play-calling in the red zone. The injury occurred on what should have been a routine breakaway, but knees have a funny way of reminding athletes that they’re human.
Dr. Gabriella Ode, an orthopedic surgeon and team physician for the New York Liberty, told The Times earlier this year that Watkins would need “upwards of 12 months to recover.” That timeline doesn’t exactly scream “rush back for your junior year,” does it?
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Watkins Was Special
Before we get too deep into the medical mumbo-jumbo, let’s remember what USC is losing here. Watkins wasn’t just good; she was historically dominant. As a sophomore, she averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Those aren’t just impressive numbers; they’re “rewrite the record books” numbers.
The Compton native became the fastest player in USC history to reach 1,000 career points, hitting that milestone in just 38 games. For perspective, that’s tied for the fourth-fastest in Division I history. Not USC history. Not Pac-12 history. Division I history.
Watkins didn’t just put up pretty stats, either. She led USC to back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament, a Big Ten regular-season title in their first year in the conference, and Elite Eight appearances. Oh, and she became the first USC player ever to win AP Player of the Year. No big deal, right?
USC’s Uphill Battle Without Their Star
Here’s where things get really interesting (and by interesting, I mean potentially catastrophic for USC). The Trojans aren’t just losing Watkins; they’re dealing with a mass exodus that would make even the transfer portal blush. Gone are Kiki Iriafen, Rayah Marshall, and Talia von Oelhoffen to graduation, plus Avery Howell and Kayleigh Heckel hit the transfer portal.
That’s a lot of production walking out the door, even for a program that’s gotten used to roster turnover. The silver lining? Freshman phenom Jazzy Davidson is coming in as the No. 1 recruit in the country. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb seems cautiously optimistic about Davidson’s potential impact, though she was quick to temper expectations.
“No one is filling JuJu’s shoes,” Gottlieb said earlier this month, probably stating the obvious for anyone who’s watched Watkins play. “Those are unique shoes. But the fact that Jazzy can step into our program and already just make a really unique and incredible impression on everybody is pretty wild.”
The Long Game: Why This Might Actually Help
Before USC fans start organizing support groups, let’s consider the bigger picture here. Watkins sitting out this season might actually be the best thing for her long-term career prospects. She’s already projected as a top WNBA draft pick when she’s eligible in 2027, and rushing back from a major injury isn’t exactly the kind of risk-taking that impresses professional scouts.
Plus, Watkins will have two years of eligibility remaining when she returns as a senior, giving her plenty of time to remind everyone why she was the most exciting player in college basketball before the injury. There’s something to be said for coming back stronger, both physically and mentally, after taking the time to properly heal.
The Bigger Picture: Women’s Basketball Resilience
This whole situation highlights something that women’s basketball has been dealing with for years—the delicate balance between competitive pressure and long-term health. Watkins could have tried to rush back, could have pushed through the pain and uncertainty, but she chose the harder path: patience.
In a sport where careers can be fleeting and opportunities scarce, that kind of maturity is rare. Watkins isn’t just thinking about this season or even next season—she’s thinking about the next decade of her career. That’s the kind of long-term thinking that separates stars from superstars.
What This Means for USC Moving Forward
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb faces a fascinating challenge this season. Can she keep the program relevant without its biggest star? Can Davidson step in and provide even a fraction of Watkins’ production? And perhaps most importantly, can the Trojans maintain their recruiting momentum while their best player sits on the bench?
The answers to those questions will likely determine whether USC remains a national championship contender or takes a step back into the pack. Either way, Watkins will be watching from the sidelines, probably itching to get back on the court and show everyone what they’ve been missing.
For now, though, the rest of college basketball gets a reprieve from the JuJu show. Don’t get too comfortable—she’ll be back, and something tells me she’s going to have plenty to prove.
