Juju Watkins made a much-anticipated return to Galen Center on Sunday. The NCAA women's basketball standout anchored a regular-season Trojans home game for the first time in nearly 600 days, powering No. 3 USC to a 118-40 rout of Utah State.
Juju Watkins Lifts USC Women’s Basketball Over Utah State
Now entering her senior year, JuJu Watkins earned first-team 2024/25 All-American honors while carrying No. 3 USC to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. She then tore her ACL during the team's 2025 March Madness run, subsequently sitting out the entire 2025/26 NCAA season.
However, she showed little rust in Sunday's 2026/27 home opener. The 21-year-old guard looked every bit the star she was before, piling up 32 points and 16 assists to lead USC in both categories.
Top freshman recruit Saniyah Hall kept the offense humming, scoring 20 points for the second straight game while adding five assists. Her hot start gives USC a dangerous second option alongside Watkins.
USC Shoots for Perfect NCAA Record Against Charleston
The win kept No. 3 USC unbeaten early in the NCAA season, days after Watkins celebrated her comeback in the Trojans’ opening win. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s group has quickly rediscovered its rhythm with its biggest name back on the court.
USC returns to the Galen Center on Tuesday, hosting Charleston at 10:30 PM ET PT (BTN).
