USC Trojans’ standout sophomore, JuJu Watkins, was on the cusp of making history in women’s college basketball when disaster struck. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, during a dominant 96-59 victory over Mississippi State, Watkins suffered a torn ACL midway through the first quarter. This unfortunate injury not only ended her season but also put her upcoming 2025-26 season at risk. Before the game, Watkins had accumulated 1,706 points over her two-year career, which was the second-highest total ever for a player’s first two seasons in Division I women’s college basketball.
Despite her injury, Watkins played five minutes in the game, scoring three points—all from the free-throw line—bringing her total points to 1,709. Sadly, with her season cut short, she will not be able to surpass the record held by former Ohio State player Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 1,762 points during her first two years. Mitchell, a star now playing for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, set the record back in 2015-16, after leading the nation in scoring during both of her first two seasons.
Watkins had been on track to break multiple records this season, including surpassing Mitchell’s total. Earlier in the year, she had already passed Caitlin Clark, another legendary player who became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. While Clark holds a separate distinction, Watkins and Mitchell are unique in that they both achieved remarkable success in their first two years. Unfortunately, Watkins will now miss the opportunity to make that final push for the record.
Despite the setback for their star player, the USC Trojans are moving forward in the tournament. They will face Kansas State in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, though they will do so without the player who had been their top performer all season. The loss of Watkins is a significant blow to USC, but the team will continue to press on, determined to succeed even without their standout guard.
Watkins’ injury leaves a bittersweet feeling for what could have been, but it’s important to recognize the remarkable career she’s had so far. With her talent and drive, it’s clear that her basketball journey is far from over, and fans will be eagerly waiting for her return to the court inthe future.
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