JuJu Watkins will step back onto a basketball court for the first time in more than a year on October 25, when USC hosts California in an exhibition game at the Galen Center, and the star guard said she expects the moment to hit her hard.
Watkins tore her right ACL on March 24, 2025, during USC's second-round NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi State. The injury ended her 2024-25 season and kept her on the sideline for the entire 2025-26 campaign, a loss that reshaped the Trojans and the college basketball season.
According to EssentiallySports, Watkins told reporters she expects a flood of feelings once the game is over, even if she stays locked in during it.
“Man, nervousness, happiness, just very grateful. A lot of different emotions, but I think I will be locked in during the game and before the game, but after, I might get a little emotional,” Watkins said, in comments shared by Just Women's Hoops.
Why Watkins' comeback matters in Iowa
The return carries weight far beyond Los Angeles. USC's Big Ten schedule includes a trip to Iowa this season, meaning Hawkeye fans could get an up-close look at the biggest name in the women's game when the Trojans visit Carver-Hawkeye Arena in February.
The date is part of a brutal closing stretch for USC. The Trojans face UCLA in the first regular-season Crosstown Showdown on February 7, then travel to Iowa before returning home for games against Michigan State, Ohio State, and UCLA. The regular season wraps up February 28 at Oregon.
For Iowa fans tracking the Big Ten race, Hawkeyes recruiting news has dominated the fall headlines, but a visit from Watkins and the Trojans will be one of the marquee games on the conference calendar.
What the injury cost USC
Before going down, Watkins was averaging 23.9 points per game as a sophomore and had earned national recognition as one of the most influential players in college basketball. ESPN reports that her return after sitting out all of last season is the biggest story in the country heading into 2026-27.
Her absence was a heavy blow. USC finished 18-14 and bowed out of March Madness in the second round, a steep drop after reaching the Elite Eight in each of the previous two seasons.
Early signs from practice are encouraging
Watkins has been working her way back in practice, and observers at USC like what they see.
“She's looked really good in practice so far, getting better each day,” said Minh Nguyen, a sophomore member of USC's women's basketball practice squad, in comments reported by USC Annenberg Media. “It seems like she'll be more or less her old self, but obviously there's going to be some rust coming back from a year off from not playing.”
USC Annenberg journalism professor Miki Turner, who watched Watkins in practice, gave an even stronger review.
“I've watched her in practice a couple times,” Turner said. “She is probably more fit than she was before she left. [It] doesn't look like there is any trace of the injury.”
A demanding road back to the top
USC opens the regular season against UNLV on November 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Big Ten play begins December 5 on the road against Washington, and the schedule only gets harder from there.
After facing Wisconsin on December 29, the Trojans host Northwestern and Nebraska, then travel to Maryland and Rutgers, with Purdue and Indiana later in January. Minnesota and Penn State also visit the Galen Center as USC tries to build momentum through the conference slate.
The Trojans are chasing their first Final Four since 1986, and Watkins is not the only reason for optimism. Rising talent Jazzy Davidson and Kennedy Smith will be key pieces as USC tries to climb back to the top of the sport.
Watkins described her rehab as a “roller coaster” in a sit-down interview with NBC Sports, and she acknowledged the rust will take time to shake off. The exhibition against California on October 25 will be the first test.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does JuJu Watkins return to the court?
Watkins is scheduled to return October 25, when USC hosts California in an exhibition game at the Galen Center.
What injury kept JuJu Watkins out?
Watkins tore her right ACL on March 24, 2025, during USC's second-round NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi State, and she missed the entire 2025-26 season.
Does USC play Iowa this season?
Yes. USC visits Iowa in February as part of its Big Ten schedule, following the February 7 Crosstown Showdown against UCLA.