JuJu Watkins hasn’t touched an official basketball court since March 2025, sidelined by a brutal ACL tear in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but her return for USC this Monday, November 2, is already sending shockwaves across college basketball and straight into the WNBA draft conversation. She’s not just coming back; she’s returning to a No. 3-ranked USC squad, probably the most stacked team she’s ever played with, featuring sophomore Jazzy Davidson and freshman Saniyah Hall. This isn’t just a comeback; it’s a full-on resurgence for a player who, in her first two seasons, was flat-out undeniable, rewriting record books and dragging USC back into the national spotlight. You just know this kid lives for the game, saying, “When I get out there I finally want it to be like I’m back a kid again playing the game that I love.”
The Storm’s Eyes Are Already Fixed on November 15
Here in the Emerald City, we’ve got one eye firmly on JuJu Watkins, because while she’s set to electrify college courts, her WNBA future is already a hot topic. Fans of the Seattle Storm, along with the Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, Washington Mystics, and her hometown Los Angeles Sparks, are all watching, imagining what she’d look like in their jersey. Why the WNBA obsession now? The 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery is just around the corner, November 15, 2026, to be exact, revealing which team gets that coveted No. 1 pick. A talent like Watkins doesn’t come around every day, and our Storm faithful are certainly dreaming big about what she could bring to Climate Pledge Arena.
Another Watkins Returns: Ashlyn’s Potential Is Untapped
But JuJu isn’t the only Watkins making a highly anticipated return. Across the country, South Carolina’s 6-foot-3 forward Ashlyn Watkins is also back after tearing her ACL in January 2025. Now, Ashlyn’s college career has been a bit different. She’s only started nine games out of 84, never quite getting the runway to fully unleash her abilities. Her sophomore year, averaging almost 21 minutes, 9.2 points, and 7.4 rebounds, shows glimpses of what she can do. And get this: despite limited playing time, she still led the SEC in blocks that season with 91 swats, helping South Carolina boast the nation’s best defensive rating when she was on the court. That’s serious talent, just waiting to burst out.
JuJu Watkins kicks off her highly anticipated collegiate campaign on Monday, November 2, when USC takes on UNLV in Las Vegas at 4 p.m. ET on CBSSN. All eyes will be on her, not just for what she can do for the Trojans, but for what her performance could mean for the WNBA draft lottery in a couple of weeks, and potentially, the future of our very own Seattle Storm.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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