JuJu Watkins is back on the court for USC after more than a year away recovering from a torn ACL, and her return has been nothing short of electric. Her first game back, a blowout win against UNLV, was pure emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes after the buzzer, clearly overwhelmed by the grind she put in and the sheer joy of playing the game she loves again. She dropped 21 points in that one, and while the Trojans dominated, you could see a little rust, like going 0-for-5 from deep and not quite hitting her usual marks as a rebounder or passer.
From Rust to “Best in the World” in One Week
Forget any concerns about rust because what Watkins did in her second game against Utah State was just insane. It was like she hit a cheat code. She didn’t just look like her old self, she looked like the best player in the world, period. Watkins was a three-level scorer, an elite facilitator, and absolutely owned the glass. She put up a ridiculous 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in another blowout victory for USC. How she found this kind of groove just two games into the season is honestly inexplicable. The AP wasn’t sleeping on it either, naming her National Player of the Week. This woman is a force.
Sky’s Not The Limit, It’s The Requirement
Watkins isn’t doing it all alone, either. She spoke after her second game about how her team has made the transition so smooth. “I think just letting the game come to me is really important,” she said, adding that she prides herself on staying patient. She gave huge props to her teammates, mentioning Saniyah Hall, Jazzy Davidson, Kennedy Smith, and Sitaya Fagan, saying, “it’s really like easy to just kind of open the floor more, get everyone else involved, and then when it’s my time, I can do my thing, too.” With USC ranked No. 3 in the nation and those kinds of top players alongside Watkins, the sky isn’t the limit for the Trojans. Reaching that height and touching the stars is the requirement for this squad.
This urgency to dominate comes from the real talk about JuJu’s future. She’s got that WNBA Draft declaration after this season staring her down. Like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers before her, she is the obvious No. 1 pick. This means one thing: this is likely her last collegiate year. This is it for USC’s best shot at a national title, right now. They want to emulate the crosstown UCLA Bruins, who won with their star Lauren Betts before she made the jump to the WNBA. USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb is keeping things focused, stressing improvement above all else. So, if you’re a USC fan, get ready, because this season is about to be an absolute must-watch with JuJu leading the charge.
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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