With JuJu Watkins officially ruled out for the rest of the season due to sustaining an ACL injury, most fans now ask: What about her future in basketball? For one analyst, recent cases of athletes suffering the same kind of injury can be used as a point of reference to not lose hope that Watkins will one day return.
Speaking at a recent edition of “NBA Today,” analyst Rebecca Lobo discussed the potential timeline of JuJu Watkins returning to the court.
“Well, what we’ve seen, especially recently with high-level athletes in terms of women’s college basketball, is it’s about a 12-month recovery process for them to get back on the court,” Lobo said.
“I don’t know that any of the teams left in the tournament have a player who is as important to their success as JuJu Watkins is to USC’s. … Without her on the floor, this is not a USC team I think could … win a national championship.”
—@RebeccaLobo on JuJu Watkins’ injury pic.twitter.com/odiAVJKBeY
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 25, 2025
While the injury is indeed serious, Lobo pointed out that recent cases of athletes recovering and eventually returning should be what fans look to when thinking of Watkins.
“So, of course, there are a lot of emotions and feelings there. But one thing that she can look to is the success of some of her contemporaries.”
“We saw Paige Bueckers a couple of years ago and then returned last year and led UConn to a Final Four,” Lobo said. “Olivia Miles from Notre Dame tore her ACL, sat out last year, and this year, she’s having a career year in terms of her efficiency. So, we have seen players come back from this and perform at a really high level.”
With that said, the analyst predicted what could be the star guard’s decision for the next season.
“Assuming she redshirts next season, which I think is a fair assumption, she would still be able to enter that 2027 draft but could also return to USC for a fourth year of eligibility and wait until the 2028 draft.”
How Serious is The ACL Injury of JuJu Watkins?
In the past, an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury was often considered a career-ending setback for basketball players due to the lack of advanced medical treatments and rehabilitation techniques. The injury, which involves a tear in the ligament that stabilizes the knee, severely impacted players’ mobility and ability to perform at a high level.
Today, advancements in medical technology, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation programs have transformed the outlook for athletes with ACL injuries. Modern ACL reconstruction surgery, which often uses grafts from the patient’s own body, has a high success rate. Rehabilitation programs are now tailored to individual needs, focusing on strength, stability, and sport-specific movements.
JuJu Watkins, currently a sophomore at USC, has the potential to play college basketball for two more seasons. However, her eligibility depends on whether she redshirts next season due to her ACL injury. If she does redshirt, she could return for her fourth year and still be eligible for the 2028 WNBA draft.
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