JuJu Watkins has been counting down the days until she can get back on the court after missing the whole 2025–26 season due to an ACL injury. A recent USC update might have just revealed her return date.

As part of the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, the Trojans said they would start the 2026-27 season against UNLV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on November 2. Everyone will be watching to see if Watkins can make her highly anticipated return in front of a national audience.

In a tweet, reporter Talia Goodman explained how important the game was: “USC women’s basketball will open the 2026-27 season on a national stage, facing UNLV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 2.” Arizona will also play Stanford in the event. She then gave the most important piece of information that everyone wanted to know: “This matchup will feature the likely return of JuJu Watkins. Should be a fun one.”

The “likely return” reference is very important, given how long Watkins has been out. She tore her ACL on March 24, 2025, during the NCAA Tournament second-round game against Mississippi State. It happened when she was planting to cut on a fast break, and her knee buckled without any contact. The date of November 2 gives her about 19 months to recover from surgery, which is in line with how ACL rehab usually goes. Watkins averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game during the 2024–25 season before she got hurt. He shot 42.6% from the field.

Lindy La Rocque, the head coach of UNLV, liked that the game gave them a national stage. La Rocque said, “We are excited to continue to put our program on the national stage by playing in this incredible event of an amazing program in USC,” said La Rocque. “Tipping off the 2026-27 season at T-Mobile Arena will be a great experience for our team and fans!”

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The Hall of Fame showcase in Las Vegas will be shown on TNT Sports’ networks across the country for the fourth consecutive year. UNLV has a 6-5 lead in the all-time series against USC. The last time they met was in Las Vegas in 2018-19, when USC won 86-72.

Jazzy Davidson carries the USC torch while JuJu Watkins recovers

JuJu Watkins is recovering from a torn ACL, but USC is still doing well thanks to freshman Jazzy Davidson. Davidson was named National Freshman of the Week by the USBWA for the fourth time this season, and the second week in a row. She is now the most decorated first-year player in the country.

Davidson walked into a nightmare and made it look easy. After Watkins brought the Trojans back to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight for the first time in decades, everyone wondered if they could repeat those feats again.

The freshman quickly put those doubts to rest. She scored a career-high 32 points against No. 10 Ohio State, hitting six three-pointers. That was after she scored 24 points, made six assists, recorded four steals, and blocked three shots against Wisconsin the week before. Davidson’s 32-point game was the first by a USC freshman since Watkins herself scored 30 points against UCLA on March 8, 2024.

Davidson isn’t just getting by; she’s winning. She has scored in the double digits in 24 straight games, 20 or more points in five straight games, and she is the only Division I player leading her team in all five major categories. When Watkins comes back next season, USC might have the best pair of players in college basketball.