JuJu Watkins Scores 21 in Her Return After 588 Days as No. 3 USC Routs UNLV 100-68 in Las Vegas
Watkins, back from the ACL injury that cost her all of last season, scored 21 points in 25 minutes in her first game since the 2025 NCAA Tournament - and she was not even USC's top scorer, as Jazzy Davidson had 23 and freshman Saniyah Hall 22 in her debut.
LAS VEGAS - JuJu Watkins is back, and No. 3 USC looked like a title contender in her return. Watkins scored 21 points in 25 minutes on Monday as the Trojans opened the season with a 100-68 rout of UNLV at T-Mobile Arena, the Associated Press reported - her first game since she tore her ACL in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, 588 days ago by AP's count, after missing all of last season.
She did not have to carry it alone, which may be the scarier news for the rest of the country. Jazzy Davidson led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting, and freshman Saniyah Hall added 22 points in her collegiate debut, along with seven rebounds and seven assists, AP reported. Watkins added five rebounds and two assists, and scored 11 of her points in a third quarter USC won 31-10, stretching a 52-39 halftime lead to 83-49.
The Trojans shot 58.8 percent and owned the paint 52-24, AP reported. UNLV's Maia Rosarion scored 12 points and Jayla Constant 10, and the Lady Rebels actually won the rebounding battle 40-35 behind Meadow Roland's nine boards - a footnote in a game that was 29-15 after one quarter and never close again.
Watkins' return closes a long story: USC reached the Elite Eight in 2025 before her injury, then went out in the second round in 2026 without her, the New York Post noted. With her back, the Trojans (1-0) host Utah State on Sunday; UNLV (0-1) hosts UTSA on Friday, AP reported.
