Dick Vitale’s 'Sad' Reaction to JuJu Watkins Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 2:10 AM ET

The women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 field is now set. The No. 1 seed USC Trojans moved on with a 96-59 win over No. 9 Mississippi State on Monday in another blowout win the Lindsay Gottlieb's team.

Unfortunately, USC suffered a massive blow with superstar JuJu Watkins leaving the game in the first quarter.

Watkins played just five minutes before falling to the floor in pain. She had to be carried off the court and missed the rest of the game.

Afterward, it was revealed that Watkins will undergo season-ending surgery in a crushing blow for the Trojans. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Watkins tore her ACL.

Her injury sparked reactions far and wide, and now legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale weighed in with just three words.

"So so sad!" Vitale wrote with the ESPN article quoted.

It's a crushing blow for USC as the Trojans had high hopes for a national title.

Watkins is arguably the best player in the game, and her loss is going to leave a big hole on the rotation during the remainder of March Madness.

For now, USC will try and keep things going, and the Trojans face No. 5 Kansas State on Saturday in a Sweet 16 game, although it will be a different look without their best player.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: