Angel Reese leads prayers for JuJu Watkins after USC star suffers ACL tear in March Madness

Angel Reese and others send prayers to JuJu Watkins after USC superstar suffered horrific knee injury in 2nd round of March Madness.

Angel Reese leads prayers for JuJu Watkins after USC star suffers ACL tear in March Madness

Angel Reese leads prayers for USC star JuJu Watkins

March Madness is underway, and fans are heavily betting on USC to be one of the teams to lift the NCAA Championship. That is simply because leading superstar JuJu Watkins and her teammates have been a cut above the rest and will give the likes of UCLA, UConn, Texas and Notre Dame a fight for supremacy.

In the second-round games today, USC was facing Mississippi State. It was a David vs Goliath matchup especially when considering how strong South California’s team is. But even then, Mississippi State’s players knew from the start who is USC’s most important player.

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In the first five minutes of play, Watkins missed both her field goals. But importantly, she drew fouls from both of them and converted three out of the four free throws. But soon after that, she drove down the court to try another basket.

However, as her right leg landed on the floor, video replays show her knee buckled. She instantly grimaced with pain and went down to the floor clutching her right knee. Her teammates stood around her as JuJu Watkins was writhing on the floor. USC staff had to carry the sophomore to the medical room.

One look at the replay and it seems her knee buckles is almost the same way Cameron Brink‘s knee did earlier in her rookie WNBA season. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that it is indeed a torn ACL, which means, Watkins’ season is over.

Angel Reese leads athletes and celebrities to offer prayers for JuJu Watkins

As soon as clips of this knee injury spread like wildfire, athletes and celebrities around the world started sharing their prayers on social media. Leading them was Angel Reese who was probably watching the game as it developed. She wrote on X.

Prayers for Juju!

Angel Reese wrote

Similar messages appeared from the likes of former LSU teammate and March Madness star Flau’jae Johnson. NFL great Dez Bryant chimed in with a message of his own. Then some in the media followed and along with them were celebrities such as O’Shea Jackson Jr., rapper 2Chainz etc.

JuJu Watkins is one of the most exciting talents to come through in women’s basketball. She is expected to carry this hype into the WNBA and help Caitlin Clark, Reese, Brink and others continue to help the league grow. But such injuries can dampen a lot of hopes.

Watkin’s untimely injury in season USC could win it all

Last season, a weeping JuJu Watkins exited March Madness after single-handedly leading USC to the Elite Eight. Ahead of this season, her efforts managed to draw in several transfers. Most notably, Kiki Iriafen came across from Stanford with the intention to win a NCAA Championship.

They started the season well, putting together a 19-1 record with the lone loss to fellow championship contenders Notre Dame. They then continued that stellar run to end their regular season with a major win over cross town rivals and championship contenders UCLA.

All that momentum meant those who were high on USC to win it all, were getting proof every single game of their ability to do it all. But this knee injury might change that. USC did go out to win against Mississippi State with a considerable margin.

However, these games are not the tests they need JuJu Watkins for. They might not have a problem facing Kansas State in the round of Sweet Sixteen. But in the next round of the Elite Eight, they will again go up against UConn.

Watkins and her teammates were set to return the favor. But now, if she is indeed out for the rest of the season, her teammates might find it difficult to battle UConn. That team has Paige Bueckers playing her last few games in Huskies colors, and she would like to leave college basketball with the championship.