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NCAA Reveals Major JuJu Watkins Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 10:28 AM ET

The USC women's basketball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, losing to the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies in the regional final without the help of the injured JuJu Watkins.

The sophomore suffered a torn ACL in the Trojans' second-round matchup against Mississippi State, ending her season.

Despite the tough blow of Watkins' injury and the NCAA Tournament loss, the official social media account of NCAA March Madness recently shared some brighter news.

Watkins has officially been named the 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year. The USC sophomore won the award shortly after being named the Naismith National Player of the Year.

The 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year, @Jujubballin. #NCAAWBB x #MarchMadness x @USCWBB pic.twitter.com/M593nrQY61
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 5, 2025

Watkins led the Big Ten in scoring, posting 23.9 points per game during her second season with the Trojans. She also recorded 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, proving to be one of the most well-rounded players in college basketball.

The USC star originally committed to the Trojans as one of the most highly touted players in high school recruiting history, and there's a chance she may have already exceeded expectations.

Watkins will now work through the recovery process of a torn ACL. As she prepares for her third season with the USC Trojans, the NCAA Tournament will continue with a matchup between UConn and South Carolina for the national championship on Sunday.

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

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