JuJu Watkins, arguably the best player in college basketball when healthy, is finally back on the court, ending a grueling 588-day absence. USC opens its 2026-27 season against UNLV on Monday, and the Trojans are rolling into the year as the No. 3-ranked team in the country, loaded with national championship expectations. You know why? It’s all about Watkins’ return.
The Brutal Setback and the Long Wait
It feels like forever since we saw Watkins dominate. Back on March 24, 2025, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State, everything changed. She was driving for a layup, collided with defenders, and immediately went down, clutching her right knee. The replay was brutal: she couldn’t put weight on it, needing help off the court. A few weeks later, the diagnosis hit: a torn right ACL. Then came the surgery, which meant she’d miss the entire 2025-26 season. Doctors and Watkins herself were smart, refusing to rush her back, especially after USC had an underwhelming season last year without her. That decision to sit out the entire 2025-26 season, made even before it began, was tough but necessary.
The Humbling Grind Back to the Court
Can you imagine the mental toughness required for a 588-day rehab? Watkins told ESPN all about it, describing a process that forced her to “be stationary and start back all the way to the fundamentals of how I first started learning to play and shoot.” She spent a ton of time in the weight room at first, slowly moving to stationary basketball drills like catching and shooting. It was a gradual journey before she could move at full speed again. She called it “very gradual and definitely a humbling experience, just because it was such a long process.” But through it all, she found “a lot of small wins along the way.” She missed 34 total games, two in that 2025 NCAA Tournament, and then all 32 games of the 2025-26 season. That’s a huge chunk of competitive basketball she sat out.
Now, that long, humbling journey is over. Watkins is ready to return to her place atop college basketball. When USC tips off against UNLV on Monday, you know everyone will be locked in. With Watkins back and healthy, the No. 3 Trojans aren’t just looking for a good season, they’re chasing a national championship. It’s go time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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