USC’s Watkins suffers season-ending injury in NCAA tourney

USC’s JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending injury Monday in the NCAA Tournament and will undergo surgery, the school announced.

The Trojans didn’t specify the injury, but sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that it’s a torn ACL.

The sophomore went down in the first quarter of USC’s second-round matchup with Mississippi State. She sustained the injury while driving toward the hoop on a fast break. USC went on to win 96-59.

“I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the court and crying,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said postgame, according to the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver.

Watkins posted three points, one rebound, and two assists in her brief time on the court. Forward Kiki Iriafen stepped up in Watkins’ absence, posting a game-high 36 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

Watkins led USC in scoring this season, averaging 24.6 points per game to go along with seven rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks. The guard was named to her second straight AP All-America team.

USC is a 1-seed, and the program made easy work of UNC Greensboro in the Round of 64 on Saturday. Watkins posted a game-high 22 points in the contest.

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