Tragedy has struck the Women’s NCAA Tournament. USC star player JuJu Watkins will miss the remainder of the tournament after suffering a torn ACL during the Trojans’ matchup against Mississippi State.
According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, Watkins tore the ACL in the game’s first five minutes. USC would go on to dominate Mississippi State 96-59.
The injury occurred on a drive to the basket. Watkins was fouled as she split the defense, and her right knee buckled. She stayed down clutching her knee before she was carried off the field.
“I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the floor crying,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “This is a human game and so I obviously tried my best to be what I need to be for the team, but internally it’s a lot.”