USC Women's Basketball Sees Surge in Talent with JuJu Watkins' Return
Written with AI assistance from the cited sources and reviewed by our team. Editorial policy
The Road Back
After missing nearly six months of play due to injury, USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins made her highly anticipated return to the court last week.
The senior guard scored 17 points in her first game back, a 72-56 win over Pacific. While the team still has work to do to regain its footing after the extended layoff, Watkins' return is a significant boost to their championship hopes.
Watkins' injury was a major setback for the Trojans, who had high expectations heading into the season. The team's performance suffered as a result, with USC finishing last in the Pac-12 Conference standings.
The Challenges Ahead
- Concise play after long layoffs can be difficult
- A challenging schedule remains
Watkins' return is just one part of USC's plan to get back on track. The team will face a tough stretch of games, including matchups against top-ranked teams like South Carolina and Oregon.
The Impact on the NCAA Tournament
The women's college basketball season is shaping up to be highly competitive, with several top teams vying for a spot in the Final Four. With Watkins' return, USC is now a team to watch in the NCAA tournament picture.
Experts are predicting that the Trojans will make a deep run in the tournament, with some even putting them as high as a national championship contender. While it's still early days, JuJu Watkins' return has given USC fans hope for a successful season ahead.
Sources
- UNLV women's basketball live: highlights, score — usatoday.com
- No. 1 South Carolina holds off Maryland rally to win opener in Paris. What we learned — thestate.com
- USC's JuJu Watkins is back and maybe better than ever, 588 days after injury — espn.com
- Watch JuJu Watkins' 1st USC Basket of 2026 WCBB Season After Missing 588 Days With Injury — bleacherreport.com
- Women's college basketball season predictions: Experts make picks for Final Four, national champ and NPOY — cbssports.com
This article summarises and adds context to the original reporting linked above.
