USC women’s basketball star junior guard JuJu Watkins announced she will sit out of the 2025-26 season. She will continue recovery after suffering an ACL tear in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 24.

Watkins took to her Instagram on Sunday evening to announce her decision, saying she wanted to prioritize her recovery. 

“Because you’ve been with me every step of the way, I wanted you to hear it from me directly that following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love,” Watkins’ statement read. 

In the Trojans’ game against Mississippi State in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Watkins suffered an ACL tear in her right knee. She was immediately taken off the court and sent for medical evaluation; the team later announced she would need to undergo season-ending surgery. 

In her sophomore season, Watkins led USC with 23.9 points and 3.4 assists per game. She also received a number of top accolades for the 2024-2025 season, including being named The Associated Press women’s college basketball National Player of the Year. 

“JuJu’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we fully support her decision to focus on recovery this season,” Head Coach Lindsey Gottlieb wrote in a news release Sunday. “While we will certainly miss her impact on the court, she continues to play a vital role in our program as a leader and teammate.”

The Trojans will head into the upcoming season as the defending Big Ten regular season champions, following two back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.