Some performances are so good they demand applause. Others are so dominant they force even the opposition to take notice—albeit begrudgingly. On Thursday night, JuJu Watkins delivered one of the latter. Her 38-point masterpiece not only led USC to a 71-60 victory over top-ranked UCLA but also handed the Bruins their first loss of the season. Yet, in the aftermath of the game, UCLA’s head coach seemed less interested in giving Watkins her due than in framing the loss as a necessary lesson.

According to a post by Luca Evans on X, Close compared the matchup to a high-stakes rehearsal: “I actually said, this is like a dress rehearsal for a Final Four. And so, we got a dress rehearsal.”

The post-game press conference saw her double down on that sentiment. “When you just got your butt kicked in the fourth quarter against your crosstown rival, you want, bring it on. Give me the best you’ve got, because I wanna step up into that space. And that’s, those are the people that I know are in that locker room, and are right next to me, and I want that. And that’s how you get ready for March.”

But while Close framed the loss as a learning opportunity, her assessment of Watkins’ performance was strikingly clinical, bordering on dismissive. “Bottom line is JuJu got really hot from three. She made more threes in the first half than she’s made in the last five games, I think. And credit to her. She got really hot and we needed to make some adjustments. We threw some different bigs at her early and then we had London Jones  just get right up underneath her.”

Watkins’ shooting display was nothing short of spectacular—6-of-9 from deep, including three in the first quarter and three more in the second. While UCLA scrambled to contain her, they never found an answer. Instead, their own offense collapsed in the final stretch. The Bruins opened the fourth quarter by missing their first eight shots and finished 1-of-14 from the floor in the period.

USC, trailing 52-47 entering the fourth, surged back with a 24-8 run, fueled by Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, who added 13 points. A key turning point came when Watkins stole the ball and converted a fast-break layup, giving the Trojans their first lead since halftime. The sold-out crowd at the Galen Center roared as Watkins stamped her authority on the game’s closing moments.

Turnovers, missed chances, and a nightmare named JuJu Watkins: UCLA’s perfect run ends in brutal fashion

On the other side, UCLA’s Lauren Betts put up a strong individual effort with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but the team as a whole struggled mightily. The Bruins’ 20 turnovers led to 21 points for the Trojans—an unforgivable lapse against a team with an elite scorer like Watkins.

It wasn’t just the loss that stung for UCLA; it was how it happened. The Bruins had weathered an early USC storm, even clawing back from a 14-point deficit in the second quarter, only to crumble when it mattered most. They were out-rebounded on the offensive glass, out-shot from beyond the arc, and out-hustled when the game was on the line.

For USC, the win was historic—it marked their first victory over a No. 1 team since 1983. For UCLA, it was a harsh reminder that even an unbeaten record offers no guarantees.

As Close said, “That’s how you get ready for March.” But if UCLA hopes to be ready, they’ll need to find a way to stop performances like Watkins’ from happening again.

Up next, UCLA hosts No. 22 Michigan State, looking to bounce back. USC, on the other hand, will carry their momentum into a road matchup against Washington. If Watkins plays anything like she did on Thursday night, they won’t be slowing down anytime soon.