Juju Watkins injury update: USC star nears full on-court activities
USC guard JuJu Watkins said she's "getting closer to the finish line" in her recovery after tearing her ACL in March 2025.
PHOENIX — USC guard JuJu Watkins said she's "getting closer to the finish line" in her recovery. Watkins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during the second round of the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament last March, cutting short her National Player of the Year season and sidelining her for the entire 2025-26 season. Watkins didn't provide an exact timeline for her return, but 20-year-old said she's only "couple more months" removed from returning to full on-court activities.
"I'll be ready for next season, so that's all I matters," Watkins said Friday at Team USA basketball camp in Phoenix, where she's one of two college players on the camp roster, alongside Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes. Juju Watkins and Mikayla Blakes got some shots up during Team USA’s training camp. Watkins said she’s a couple of months away from returning to full on-court activities after her ACL tear in March 2025.
pic. twitter. com/QYLbtFTTj2 — Cydney Henderson (@CydHenderson) April 3, 2026 Watkins was limited to shooting drills during Team USA's training camp.
She put up some shots with Blakes and observed from the sidelines as players practiced plays and rotations. Although she would "love to be out there participating with everyone else to the best of (her) ability," Watkins said she's just thankful to be included. "I'm really fortunate because this is a big goal of mine, so to still be able to be in the conversation, be in the rooms with so many great players...