LOS ANGELES — USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins will not play in the 2025–26 season as she continues to rehabilitate from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during the NCAA Tournament, the guard announced Sunday.
Watkins, one of the nation’s premier players, shared the news in an Instagram post, writing that the intervening months “have been filled with a lot of healing, rest and reflection.” She said she made the decision “following the advice of my doctors and trainers” and will “fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love.”
JuJu Watkins has announced that she will not compete during the 2025-26 season to focus on her recovery from injury.
— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) September 29, 2025
Full release ⤵️
USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb issued a statement supporting Watkins’ decision, emphasizing that while her absence will be felt on the court, her leadership remains integral to the program.
Watkins suffered the injury during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March, when her right knee buckled on a breakaway play. She had posted a stellar season, averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals, earning multiple national honors and establishing herself as a top WNBA prospect.
The Trojans now face the challenge of retooling a roster already entering a transition period. USC lost several contributors to graduation and transfer in the offseason, and Watkins’ absence compounds the difficulty. The arrival of freshman Jazzy Davidson, a highly rated recruit, is expected to help mitigate the loss.
Watkins, who in just two seasons ranks among USC’s all-time leading scorers, is expected to return when healthy and resume her role as a cornerstone of the program.