The clock stopped ticking, and USC was up 96-59. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb exhaled, but the relief was hollow—her focus was locked on her star player. Her mind was stuck on a different moment—4:46 in the first quarter. Kiki Iriafen soared for a block, grabbed the rebound, and kicked it ahead to Juju Watkins.

Watkins, a blur in transition, weaved through defenders—Chandler Prater closing in on her left, another shadowing her right. Then came the fall. A gasp rippled through the arena. Watkins clutched her leg, and in an instant, the deafening roar turned into an eerie silence, broken only by her cries.

According to Ben Golliver on X, USC Coach Lindsay Gottlieb, stated after the game “I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the court and crying.” The moment Watkins hit the hardwood, clutching her leg, the atmosphere inside the Galen Center shifted. Social media exploded in real-time, with fans desperate for updates.

Sports journalist Fredo Cervantes captured the gravity of the moment on X: “Juju Watkins’ parents have left their seats at center court due to concerns regarding her injury.” The silence in Galen Center spoke louder than any roar—this wasn’t just a USC heartbreak, it was a gut punch to basketball fans everywhere.

Early reports point to an ACL tear. Watkins wasn’t helped off—she was carried, no weight on either leg, a towel shielding the injury as if to block out the worst-case scenario. ESPN’s Holly Rowe confirmed she was wheeled out for further imaging, leaving USC fans holding their breath.

“She’s getting seen by our great medical team. We have a group, and a fan base and a team that’s going to have her back no matter what,” Gottlieb told ESPN after halftime. “JuJu is the toughest kid I know and she’s gonna be good one way or another.”

Watkins had been unstoppable—34 starts, 27.1 points per game, a freshman record-breaking 920 points.

After the match ended, Ben Golliver captured the moment: “USC Coach Lindsay Gottlieb on JuJu Watkins’ injury: ‘I don’t have an update… This team rallied for her. Our fans had our back. I’m just really proud… It was a true team effort. I don’t think I’ll forget this night for a lot of reasons.’”

A victory, but one overshadowed by uncertainty. Now, all of college basketball waits for answers.

Iriafen Takes Over in Watkins’ Absence

With JuJu Watkins sidelined, Kiki Iriafen seized the spotlight, delivering a masterclass with 36 points on 16-of-22 shooting, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks—a relentless force Mississippi State simply couldn’t contain. But this wasn’t a solo act.

Avery Howell (18 points), Kayleigh Heckel (13), Kennedy Smith (10), and Rayah Marshall (12) ensured the Trojans kept their foot on the gas, steamrolling to a dominant 37-point win. As the final buzzer sounded, USC had made a statement—they were built for March.

Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb put the moment into words: “Usually, you’re jumping up and down. It’s rainwater, and you’re going to the Sweet 16. But the thing I want you to really hear me say is how proud I am of all of you… You can do something together that you can’t do as individual drops of water. And I think we felt like a tidal wave tonight.” A tidal wave indeed.

Now, with Watkins’ status uncertain, USC sets its sights on Kansas State, a team making its first Sweet 16 appearance in 23 years. The Wildcats clawed past Kentucky in overtime (80-79) and won’t be easy prey. It’s firepower vs. hunger, talent vs. heart—March Madness at its finest.

With JuJu Watkins’ status uncertain, the Trojans will need to rally once again when they take the court at Spokane Arena on March 30 at 5:30 AM IST, live on ESPN. The stakes are higher, the competition fiercer, and the pressure at its peak—can USC keep the dream alive?