Sports · Basketball · 7 hrs ago
JuJu Watkins set to return for USC after ACL injury
JuJu Watkins is set to return to the court for USC in her senior season after 588 days away from official games.
She tore her right ACL in the 2025 NCAA tournament and spent last season recovering and redshirting.
Before the injury, Watkins led the Pac-12 in scoring as a freshman and was national player of the year as a sophomore.
USC went 18-14 last season and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament without her.
The Trojans are ranked third nationally, and their season opens against UNLV on Monday.
Watkins says the time away helped her reconnect with her love of basketball, while the team hopes her return can help it contend for a national title it has not won since 1984.
JuJu Watkins is set to play her first game since tearing her ACL when USC opens its 2026-27 women’s basketball season against UNLV.
The game is scheduled for Monday at T-Mobile Arena.
Watkins suffered the injury in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament and redshirted last season while rehabbing.
USC enters the season ranked third nationally, with expectations high for Watkins and the team.
- Who
- JuJu Watkins, a senior guard for USC’s women’s basketball team.
- What
- She is set to return to play after tearing her ACL.
- When
- Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
- Where
- T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Why
- Watkins has recovered from her ACL injury and is set to play in USC’s season opener.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Watkins tore her ACL in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Watkins redshirted while rehabbing her knee, and USC finished 18-14.
Watkins took part in practice with USC teammates.
USC is scheduled to open its season against UNLV, with Watkins set to play her first game in 588 days.
- Return game
- USC vs. UNLV
- Game date
- Nov. 2, 2026
- Venue
- T-Mobile Arena
- Injury
- Torn ACL in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament
- USC preseason ranking
- No. 3 nationally
4 sources
USC’s Watkins scores 21 in return from ACL injury
Watkins scores 21 as USC celebrates return: 'The game is just better with her in it'
JuJu Watkins returns after 588 days: USC star on family, the ACL tear and why 'there is no if' for the Trojans
What people are saying
I'm just happy to be out there,
I think my injury let me reset and remind myself why I do what I do and why I love it so much.
I'm feeling great, so I'm just excited to be back and ready to get after it,
I feel like her impact on us is probably more palpable than ever before.