How JuJu Watkins' devastating injury changes the March Madness bracket ... and women's basketball

USC star JuJu Watkins won't play for a national title during March Madness.

A devastating knee injury against 9-seed Mississippi State during the women's NCAA tournament changes what could have been. Watkins was in transition during a Monday night matchup against the Bulldogs, traveling up the court en route to her next score. However, the impending basket never happened. As Watkins was in stride, her leg buckled, sending her crashing to the floor.

Immediately, she grimaced, clutching her knee before dabbling over in pain. Teammates and USC Trojans staff rushed to her side, quickly realizing the moment's gravity. The crowd at Galen Center in Los Angeles Center grew quiet, waiting ― seemingly hoping ― for a quick bounceback as Watkins has done dozens of times before. Sadly, she couldn't continue and had to be carried off the court, leaving the No. 1 seed Trojans without its biggest star.

Watkins didn't return Monday evening.

Her teammates had to play without her, and they rose to the occasion in the face of the unfathomable. Forward Kiki Iriafen was magnificent as she delivered a brilliant 36 points and nine rebounds performance. The Trojans rallied around her, delivering four other double-digit stat lines. A 96-59 win pushed USC to the Sweet 16. Still, it's hard not to think about what's next.

What will the Trojans look like without JuJu Watkins? Who will replace her? How will this impact the women's NCAA bracket and USC's national title chances?

What will women's basketball look like without JuJu Watkins?

Watkins is a generational talent, a comet among the stars. At 19, she galvanized and rejuvenated a USC program that had spent several years away from the spotlight. A Los Angeles native, Watkins embodies the heart and soul of the city and, through basketball, has put it back on the national stage.

With her signature bun, it's impossible to miss Watkins on the court. She whizzes through space at any moment, calmly blocking shots or draining 3-point baskets over opposing defenders who dare to fall asleep. Watkins has become synonymous with women's basketball, her unmistakable brand woven into the fibers of the sport.

Without her, it won't feel the same. It feels criminal. It feels surreal.

So, what happens now?

Looking to the future, at the heart of it all is a young woman who just wants to hoop. There will be a day when JuJu Watkins plays basketball again. She'll emerge stronger, fierce, and supported when that time arrives. Her inner circle will undoubtedly uplift her and comfort her through what will inevitably be a life-changing metamorphosis.

Fans should remember that Watkins is a person with valid emotions and feelings. She needs grace and space to navigate this new life path. Her humanity shouldn't be lost in a quick-to-move-on world that is likely already looking for the next big thing to carry women's basketball.

JuJu Watkins is now. Watkins is here. And when she rises again, she will be inevitable.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: JuJu Watkins injury: How it changes March Madness, women's basketball

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