Seeing JuJu Watkins go down so early in the game against Mississippi State was heartbreaking. The six-foot-two point guard from USC was all set to battle her way through the NCAA Tournament, but you can never predict when injuries will come knocking at the door. We’ve seen it happen with Kyrie, and we’re seeing it with JuJu as well this year. She will recover, there’s no doubt about it, but the hit that USC took was incredible.

Stephen A. Smith addressed the unfortunate circumstance on his show FIRST TAKE. He brought up the accolades that JuJu Watkins has garnered over her first two years, calling her a special talent. Not only that, he had a few regrets to bring up. “This young lady is special. She’s a special talent. We talked so much about Caitlin Clark last year. I don’t think we talked enough about JuJu Watkins this year.” The journalist said, pointing out how she has amassed 1709 points in her first two seasons at USC. Her freshman year was overshadowed by the greatness that was CC’s senior season, but we have to give credit where it is due.

Watkins was having a stellar year before her injury, averaging about 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists a game. Not to mention, her last ten or so games have been simply extraordinary! In the first-round matchup against UNC Greensboro, the USC phenom put up 22 points and 8 rebounds to secure her team’s advancement.

The Trojans, however, have lost a lot of momentum with this injury. Even with their most recent second-round win over the Bulldogs, things aren’t looking great for USC. Without JuJu Watkins, predictions have them exiting a lot earlier than before.

According to SAS, it’s difficult to wish the best for USC without JuJu Watkins. “I had them in the national championship game against South Carolina. I don’t see that happening. Let me be very, very clear about that now: I don’t think they’re doing that without her.” Still, the forecasts aren’t all bad for the Trojans. Their Sweet 16 matchup is against Kansas State, which is a good team but lacks USC’s experience.

We know that Watkins is out for the season, but how long exactly will it take for her to heal? ACL tears are not to be taken lightly and often can take months on end. Let’s find out what the doctors are saying regarding her recovery.

A tricky road to recovery ahead for JuJu Watkins

Knee injuries suck. That’s a simple fact of the human body. Even with modern medicine and technological advancements in the field of orthopedics and surgery, they are still a disaster. And the rehab is not fun either. JuJu Watkins has a lot on her plate now with her injury, but what exactly will be the process of recovery?

Well, it’s gonna take a while. Dr. Nirav Pandya, a specialist in orthopedic surgery at UCSF, detailed the struggles that JuJu Watkins might have to face. “Tough news for JuJu Watkins.” He said in a recent tweet. “RTP after ACL reconstruction typically lands between 9 – 12 months after surgery. Good news is that there are multiple studies in women’s b-ball players that show a high return to play rate with minimal long-term impact on performance upon return.” 

What it basically means is that JuJu Watkins will have to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery, and the recovery period might be long. ‘RTP’ or ‘Return to Play’ protocols are a necessity, and include screening and monitoring of the injury as strenuous activities are reintroduced into an athlete’s regimen. There are tests that Watkins will have to clear, and there are screenings that she will have to pass.

However, according to Dr. Pandya, it’s not something to be worried about in the long term. ACL injuries aren’t career-ending like they used to be in the past. With proper rehabilitation protocols, and a bit of time, athletes have shown that they can return to normal. Just take a look at rival Paige Bueckers! After recovering from her ACL tear in 2022-23, she’s back to playing at a NPOY caliber level.

After all is said and done, it will be a tough road ahead for JuJu Watkins and her resilience will be tested. Meanwhile, USC has quite a challenge going forward as they will be playing without their centerpiece. Will the Trojans live up to expectations even without Watkins? Or will they crumble without their superstar? Only time will tell.