College of Southern California basketball star JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending leg harm throughout the Trojans’ NCAA Match victory Monday, the group introduced.
“She is going to bear surgical procedure after which start rehabilitation shortly thereafter,” the group introduced on X, with out specifying the character of the harm.
The harm is a gigantic blow to the championship hopes of USC, which received the regular-season Large Ten championship and earned a No. 1 seed within the NCAA match thanks largely to Watkins.
A sophomore sensation, Watkins averaged 24.6 factors per recreation throughout the common season to rank second within the nation. USC has not superior to a Last 4 since 1986.
The harm passed off with 4:43 to play in Monday’s first quarter towards Mississippi State within the match’s spherical of 32.
Watkins writhed in ache and held her proper knee after she fell throughout a fast-break try and needed to be helped to the locker room. USC rapidly introduced that Watkins wouldn’t return to play after she was evaluated by the group’s medical workers.
After the Trojans’ 96-59 victory that despatched them to the Candy 16, coach Lindsay Gottlieb advised reporters she didn’t have an replace on Watkins however expressed concern for her star participant.
“I’d be mendacity if I advised you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the court docket and crying,” Gottlieb stated throughout a post-game press convention.
Andrew Greif
Andrew Greif is a contract sports activities journalist.
