USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins gets emotional after first game back from injury

JuJu Watkins didn't hold back her emotions after ending a 588-day absence by making her return from injury in the No. 3 USC Trojans' 100-68 blowout win over the UNLV Rebels on Monday night.

Watkins started the fourth season of her collegiate career with the Trojans, the third that sees her on the court. She suffered a torn ACL during the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, an injury that sidelined her for the entire 2025-26 campaign.

Watkins prepared herself to return in full force, which she successfully pulled off. In 25 minutes of action, she finished with a stat line of 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. She shot 9-of-22 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. She reflected on her return from injury after the game, expressing immense gratitude that she got to come back to the court with her teammates.

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"It was great to just be out there with my team again, and to see the first one fall through. It really helped. So yeah, just grateful to be out here today," Watkins said on the CBS broadcast. "I'm most proud of just my consistency. Like there were days where I could have given up, and so I kept pushing through. And I'm just grateful that I'm here."

How JuJu Watkins, USC played against UNLV

JuJu Watkins is on a mission to return to form as one of the best players in the country. She has a promising future ahead of her in the pros, needing to deliver great performances to show she has successfully come back from the severe injury.

Five players scored in double-digits for USC in the win, including Watkins. Jazz Davidson led the team with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. She shot 10-of-11 overall, including 1-of-2 from downtown. Saniyah Hall came next with 22 points and seven rebounds, Kennedy Smith had 12 points and four steals, while Sitaya Fagan provided 11 points and three assists.

The Lady Trojans will look forward to their next matchup, being at home. They host the Utah State Aggies as tip-off commences on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET.