Juju Watkins made a commanding return to the Galen Center floor, delivering a statistical masterclass that erased all doubt about her post-injury form. In USC’s home opener, the senior forward erupted for 32 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, and five steals to lead the No. 3 Trojans to a lopsided 118-40 victory over Utah State. The performance marked a triumphant moment for one of college basketball’s most electric athletes, who had missed the previous 20 months due to a torn ACL. Fans rewarded her resilience with a standing ovation as she was subbed out with 2:34 remaining, signaling that the player who captured the AP Player of the Year award is fully back to her pre-injury dominance.
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Watkins controlled the pace from the opening tip, igniting the crowd during pregame introductions and capping a fast start with a buzzer-beating pull-up jumper from 15 feet to end the first quarter with USC leading 36-11. This game is the second consecutive outing where she has operated as a scoring machine, totaling 53 points across two games to help USC secure a 2-0 start. Her efficiency and versatility on both ends of the floor have been immediate, proving that her absence did not diminish her impact on the team’s offensive structure or defensive intensity.
The decisive win over Utah State solidifies USC’s status as a top contender in the Pac-12 and the broader national landscape. With Watkins averaging over 26 points per game in her early return, the Trojans possess a proven go-to scorer who can alter games single-handedly. As the season progresses, the focus will shift to how the rest of the roster supports Watkins’ production, but for now, her dazzling performance in the home opener has set a high benchmark for the team’s expectations.
Source: Yahoo Sports
