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USC star JuJu Watkins has to be carried off the court after apparent leg injury

On a transition drive to the basket, JuJu Watkins was fouled and went down with an apparent leg injury.
ByEricka Brockish|
Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins during pregame warmup before an NCAA Tournament second round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins during pregame warmup before an NCAA Tournament second round game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

This is something no basketball fan ever wants to see. In the second-round game against 9-seed Mississippi State, 1-seed USC is currently without star JuJu Watkins after the guard went down with an apparent leg injury after a steal and transition drive to the basket.

Watkins was already coming into the game banged up after suffering an ankle injury in their first-round game against UNC Greensboro, but was cleared to play against the Bulldogs. About four minutes into the game against Mississippi State, Watkins got a steal off the Bulldogs and went full speed coast to coast to the basket. However, just feet before she got there, she went down hard and a foul was called.

Immediately after going down, Watkins could be seen clutching her right knee in serious pain. The athletic trainers got out to her quickly to assess the situation. After laying on the floor for a few minutes, Watkins sat up and was getting ready to stand up, and it seemed like she might walk off the court. Instead, the trainers picked her up as it seemed the star guard was unable to put any weight on her leg.

It took two trainers to carry Watkins off the court, and it was clear she was in a lot of pain even being carried off the court.

Watkins is a huge part of this USC squad, averaging 24.6 points per game this season, 3.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds. the Los Angeles native is in just her second season with the Trojans, and after falling short of the Final Four last season, Watkins was primed to lead her team not just to the Final Four, but to the National Championship.

Everyone still wants an update on Watkins's condition after the injury. Busting Brackets will provide an update on Watkins's injury once it is provided.

JuJu Watkins is out for the rest of the game vs. Mississippi State

In the most recent update from USC on X (formally known as Twitter), Watkins is currently being evaluated by USC Keck Medicine Staff and will not return to the Trojans' second-round matchup against Mississippi State.

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