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.