JuJu Watkins posted a statement on social media shortly after midnight Tuesday, her first words shared publicly since exiting USC's second-round game with a season-ending ACL injury.
"Thank you for all the incredible love and support," Watkins posted to her Instagram story. "Seeing all your messages and kind words has meant the world to me — ya'll have given me so much hope.
"Right now, my heart is with my teammates — I wish I could have been out there battling, but I couldn't be prouder of the fight we've fought together. Thank you all."
Her words came just hours after No. 2 seed UConn defeated No. 1 USC, 78-64, in the Elite Eight, ending the Trojans' powerful run in the 2025 women's NCAA tournament.
The Huskies play No. 1 overall seed UCLA in the Final Four at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday in Tampa, Florida. Two other No. 1 seeds, South Carolina and Texas, play each other in the other Final Four game at 7 p.m. that day.
Watkins injured her knee in the first quarter of USC's March Madness win over Mississippi State. She will require surgery, according to the school. But the team rallied without Watkins on the court, and kept her close by wearing Nike shirts with her face on them and traveling with a 3.7-inch Funko Pop version of the star.
The Trojans defeated Mississippi State handily, 96-59, and then scraped by Kansas State, 67-61, in the Sweet 16. But Paige Bueckers-led UConn was too much to handle in the Elite Eight.
USC kept the game close by narrowing a 19-point UConn lead to five points in the third quarter before falling to the Huskies, who have a legitimate shot at winning it all if Bueckers continues her record-breaking scoring streak.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JuJu Watkins statement on Instagram thanks supporters, USC teammates
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