USC Basketball: JuJu Watkins returns to court after ACL surgery
The third-ranked Trojans open the season in Las Vegas with their star guard back from injury, joining a deep roster aimed at a national title.
By Hassan Lawson ·
JuJu Watkins is back on the court for the University of Southern California. The guard, who missed the entire 2025-26 season while rehabbing a torn ACL, played 22 minutes in a recent exhibition win over California. She scored 18 points in that game, marking her first action since the injury she sustained in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Watkins returns to a team that ranks third in the national polls. The Trojans are seeking their first championship since 1984. She joins Jazzy Davidson in the backcourt for the first time. Davidson, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, averaged 17.9 points last season. The two spent last season building chemistry from the sidelines, with Watkins encouraging Davidson during games.
The supporting cast includes guard Saniyah Hall and forward Sara Okeke. Hall recorded 23 points, six rebounds, and five steals in the exhibition game. Okeke is one of three five-star recruits on the roster. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb stated that these players have proven they will be impactful at a high level.
Watkins was named the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 25.6 points in her first two seasons at USC. During her year away from the court, she took on a leadership role, such as setting up chairs for team talks during road trips. She noted that watching the game from a different perspective helped grow her basketball IQ and leadership skills.
The season opens Monday in Las Vegas against UNLV in the Hall of Fame Series. The Trojans will visit top-ranked South Carolina on November 15. In mid-December, they will face No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 4 Duke in the Players Era Showcase in Las Vegas. Associate head coach Beth Burns said the team is ready to compete against high-pressure opponents.
Watkins took Pete Carroll's class on mindset and competition through the USC Marshall School of Business last year. She said the course helped maintain her attention to detail while away from the game. She described her return as a chance to play with fun and anticipation, having dreamed about her first basket every night since her injury.
The team finished 18-14 last season, going 9-9 in the Big Ten. They lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Watkins is ready to lead the Trojans in their bid for a title, bringing her work ethic and focus back to the floor.
Source: KNBC
