Juju Watkins Suffers Apparent Knee Injury During March Madness Game Against Mississippi State and Is Forced to Leave the Court

On Monday night, women’s college basketball star Juju Watkins was carried off the court after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

The injury occurred during the second round of March Madness, where Watkins’ team, USC, was facing off against Mississippi State.

The Incident on the Court

Watkins was making a fast break toward the hoop when she was met by two defenders.

As she planted her right leg, it looked as though her knee buckled under the pressure.

The impact caused her to fall to the ground in obvious pain, and she immediately began writhing on the floor.

Her teammates quickly surrounded her to offer support.

After the injury, USC confirmed that Watkins would be unable to continue in the game.

At the time of her exit, she had scored three points and was playing in the second quarter.

Romance Rumors Add to the Drama

As the injury unfolded, an interesting detail caught the attention of fans: Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was sitting in the crowd.

The two sparked rumors of a possible romance after being seen together following USC’s victory over UNC Greensboro in Los Angeles.

This development added an extra layer of intrigue to the night’s events.

Support from Across the Basketball Community

Outside of USC’s Galen Center, numerous women’s basketball stars expressed their concern for Watkins.

Angel Reese shared a heartfelt message saying, “Prayers for Juju!” while Aaliyah Boston echoed the sentiment with a simple “Prayers up.”

Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP, also expressed her support by posting three prayer-hand emojis in honor of Watkins.

A Rising Star with an Uncertain Future

Watkins has made a significant impact as a sophomore for USC. She’s been recognized as one of the brightest stars in women’s basketball, earning two-time All-American honors.

This season, she averaged an impressive 24.6 points per game, the second-highest in women’s Division I basketball, along with seven rebounds and 3.5 assists.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Watkins will be able to return to the court this season, but fans and fellow players alike are hoping for a speedy recovery.