JuJu Watkins' Season-Ending Knee Injury: USC Fans Are in Mourning

Watkins tore her ACL while driving to the basket five minutes into the game against Mississippi State.

March 25, 2025

A basketball player in a white jersey with a red trim, hair in a high bun, looking focused.

Image via Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Fans are in anguish after Juju Watkins was ruled out for the rest of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament.

Watkins suffered an ACL injury during the USC Trojans' second-round showdown against Mississippi State on Monday. According to a Trojans spokesperson, Watkins tore her ACL and will have surgery followed by rehab, preventing her from playing for the rest of the season.

The injury happened five minutes into the game when Watkins was driving to the basket, and her knee popped when she planted her right leg, ESPN reported.

Watkins fell to the court immediately and clutched her knee in pain. Fans attending the game were hoping the injury wasn't severe, as training staff picked her up and carried her off to the locker room. The crowd at the Trojans' Galen Center booed Mississippi State anytime they touched the ball. They went especially hard on guard Chandler Prater, who was defending Watkins.

Social media was on fire following the injury due to Watkins' popularity as one of the best college basketball players in the country. Many fans were saddened by Watkins' injury—some even offered their own knees to replace hers.

"no JuJu Watkins .. take my knee," one person tweeted. Another said, "NOT JUJU WATKINS LORD PLEASE."

Someone else tweeted, "JUJU WATKINS NOOOOOOO TAKE ME INSTEAD."

Others blamed Watkins' injury on Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels' mom, who went viral for sitting in between Watkins and her son during a tournament game over the weekend.

Daniels' mom, who's also his agent, has notably defended her son from anything that could potentially derail his bright career, including relationships.

"Jayden Daniel's mother pulled a Tanya Harding omg," said someone. A second person tweeted, "Jayden Daniels' Mom really put a hex on Juju Watkins. You can't tell me otherwise."

Despite the injury, the Trojans held it down for Watkins as they defeated Mississippi State 96-59 and moved on to the Sweet 16 in the women's NCAA tournament for a second straight season. Kiki Iriafen scored 36 points on 16-of-22 shooting to lead the charge for the Trojans.

Check out more reactions to Watkins' injury below.