JuJu Watkins, who led USC to a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Tournament, is predicted to miss the remainder of the match due to a season-ending knee injury sustained on Monday, this system introduced.
Watkins was carried off the court docket on Monday throughout USC’s 96-59 win over Mississippi State within the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament. USC advances to the Sweet 16 with the win however may have to compete with out Watkins.
Watkins is broadly anticipated to win the 2024-25 Naismith Player of the Year Award after averaging practically 24 factors per sport for the 30-3 Trojans.
Her injury occurred early in Monday’s contest as she performed simply 5 minutes earlier than taking place. Watkins was sprinting into the forecourt when she was bumped by a defender and fell. She was instantly tended to by trainers, who carried her to the locker room as she was unable to put any weight on her leg.
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Immediately after the sport, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb stated she was unaware of the severity of Watkins’ injury.
“I’m feeling a number of feelings, clearly. But the most important one is delight. What a efficiency by this group,” she stated. “When you throw a bunch of proficient individuals on a group, it would not grow to be a group till you’re employed by means of some issues. I all the time thought all year long that if we had one thing to work on, it could be when issues did not go proper instantly; generally we stressed.”
Gotlieb now has to rally her group to face its most difficult take a look at of the 12 months with out arguably one of many largest stars in ladies’s faculty basketball.
“I feel we felt like a tidal wave tonight,” she stated. “Obviously, I’m simply heartbroken if there is a critical injury for JuJu. But on the identical time, to see this place rally behind her, I hope she will be able to sooner or later see simply the importance that she has right here that goes to date past simply her expertise and skills. That’s what’s actually generational about it, the best way she’s galvanized everybody and the best way that her group had her again.”
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