JuJu Watkins’ injury casts pall over tournament, plus the streaking Suns
Good morning! You have permission to share this with the group text today.
Massive Bummers: Watkins’ injury overshadows big day
This section was supposed to be about the exciting women’s basketball ahead of us. Every team across the top three lines of seeding remains alive in the NCAA Tournament, and while that means we haven’t had many madness-inducing upsets, we do have titans drawing ever closer to each other.
That means good basketball.
And yet, a pall has been cast over the second-round action:
USC superstar JuJu Watkins left the Trojans’ 96-59 blowout win over Mississippi State last night with a knee injury. USC confirmed after the game her injury was season-ending, and that Watkins will undergo surgery. It’s a gut punch for the Trojans and, frankly, the tournament, which loses one of its superstars far too early. USC plays Kansas State next, with a possible date with UConn after that. They’ll have to do it without their best player. Our No Offseason crew recorded an emergency pod with more on this.
Let’s try to get back to happier things. A checklist, a la yesterday’s men’s tourney check-in, with eyes on the road ahead:
The favorite: UConn
According to our latest metrics, the Huskies — despite earning a No. 2 seed — are still the most likely national champion. They breezed through the first two rounds, winning those games by an average of 51.5 points. Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 34 points in her final collegiate home game last night, too. Second-favorite: South Carolina.
Thrilling games? ✅
Maryland, in both brackets, cannot avoid this. A day after the men’s team got a buzzer-beater win, the other Terrapins beat Alabama 111-108 in double overtime. It was the game of the tournament thus far, and it was the second-highest-scoring game in women’s tourney history.
Good vibes: LSU, UNC
My Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 30-point win over Florida State, and as Brody Miller writes, they may have redefined their ceiling in the process. North Carolina survived an upset bid from West Virginia to set up a Sweet 16 matchup against Duke. I hear that’s a solid rivalry.
See takeaways from all of yesterday’s games here. The women are back in action Friday.
News to Know
Former Michigan athletes file suit
Two former Michigan athletes filed a sweeping class-action lawsuit against the university and others in light of recent charges against Matt Weiss, which include the former offensive coordinator hacking students’ accounts and accessing intimate photos. Both athletes are anonymous in the suit but are listed as former members of the gymnastics team and soccer team, respectively. See our full report here.
Worthy sues ex-fiancée
Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy accused his ex-fiancee of theft and extortion in a lawsuit, obtained by The Athletic yesterday, which alleges that Tia Jones stole and destroyed money and personal property belonging to Worthy. This all comes after Worthy was arrested earlier this month on a criminal charge of assault, which was dismissed the next day. Read the latest.
More news
The Pohlad family wants at least $1.7 billion for the Twins, and sources say the franchise has accumulated a staggering amount of debt. See the details.
Rays ace Shane McClanahan will miss time with a nerve issue but avoided serious injury in his arm. Everyone is relieved.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch channeled his inner Randy Marsh and said he’d “do it again” after getting ejected from Sunday’s win over the USMNT.
The USWNT scheduled two stateside friendlies against Ireland over the summer. More details here.
More upsets in Miami: Coco Gauff went down yesterday
Iowa hired Drake’s Ben McCollum as its new head men’s basketball coach, replacing school legend Fran McCaffery.
📫 Love The Pulse? Check out our other newsletters.
Comebacks: Are the Suns back?
Remember when we counted the Suns out? The vaunted big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal just never jelled into the offensive juggernaut they were supposed to become.
And yet here we are, with 10 games left in the season, and Phoenix might be the NBA’s hottest team. The Suns (35-37) won their fourth straight last night thanks to this Booker game winner:
Devin Booker sinks the game-winner to lift the Phoenix Suns to their fourth straight win ☀️
🎥 @NBApic.twitter.com/IXAg1r6goA
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 25, 2025
The last week has built momentum, as Doug Haller wrote a few days ago when Phoenix somehow beat Cleveland, the league’s best team.
The Suns are just inside the Play-In, sitting 10th, a half-game out of ninth … though one loss could send them to 11th place. Perilous.
Let’s keep going:
Watch and Listen
📺 NBA: Warriors at Heat
7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
Jimmy Butler returns to Miami for the first time after forcing his way out at the trade deadline this year. He’s in a better spot now with the Warriors. I am extremely curious to hear the home crowd reaction.
📺 Golf: TGL Finals
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
New York Golf Club faces off against Atlanta Drive GC in what could decide the first-ever TGL championship after Atlanta won Match 1 last night.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
We’ll have a full MLB preview tomorrow, but if you want to work ahead, read our staff predictions for the season here. The year of Bobby Witt Jr.? Hm.
I will read anything about God Shammgod. Christian Clark has a great story on the New York legend’s relationship with Kyrie Irving, as two of the best ball-handlers we’ve ever seen happen to work for the Mavericks.
March is, ironically, the worst month for the NBA. Will the league ever try to change that?
Joe Rexrode says this men’s NCAA Tournament doesn’t need Cinderellas, actually — it’s got better matchups anyway.
Incredible backstory here: how former Rangers goalie John Davidson inspired the Foreigner hit song “Double Vision.” I wish I could inspire a timeless song. Read the lore here.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Hugh Kellenberger’s excellent column on Viktor Hovland and his fixation on perfectionism. So good.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Our men’s NCAA Tournament power rankings, Sweet 16 edition.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Women's College Basketball, The Pulse
2025 The Athletic Media Company
Topics
-
JuJu Watkins' knee injury casts pall over March Madness, changes NCAA women's tournament
Watkins' injury during USC's blowout win over Mississippi State is a loss for more than just the Trojans.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
College basketball: USC's JuJu Watkins sustains season-ending injury at NCAA tournament
USC's JuJu Watkins sustained a knee injury during the Trojans' blowout victory over Mississippi State and will miss the remainder of the 2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, the ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
JuJu Watkins injury creates defining moment for No. 1 seed USC
The USC women's basketball team lost star JuJu Watkins to a season-ending injury, then played inspired basketball in a win over Mississsippi State.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
JuJu Watkins injury: USC women's basketball star carried off court in NCAA Tournament game
JuJu Watkins, one of college basketball's biggest stars, left her Women's NCAA Tournament second-round game with an apparent injury Monday night.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Did JuJu Watkins tear her ACL? What we know, don't know about season-ending knee injury
USC women's basketball superstar JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday night. Here's the latest news and updates.Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Women's March Madness: USC's JuJu Watkins says she's 'all good' after injury scares in first-round win
Watkins suffered minor hand and ankle injuries in USC's victory over UNC GreensboroCBS Sports - 3d -
How JuJu Watkins' devastating injury changes the March Madness bracket ... and women's basketball
JuJu Watkins' devastating injury changes the March Madness bracket ... and all of women's basketball.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
USC star JuJu Watkins sustains season-ending injury in NCAA tournament
It was absolutely the worst turn of events for the USC women's basketball Monday as star JuJu Watkins had to be carried off the court in the first quarter of the Trojans' NCAA tournament game after ...Yahoo Sports - 19h -
Women’s March Madness 2025 national title odds: UConn new favorite after JuJu Watkins injury
Women’s college basketball underwent a major shakeup on Monday night with the season-ending knee injury of USC star JuJu Watkins. During a second-round NCAA Tournament matchup against No. 9 seed ...Yahoo Sports - 6h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Sterling's Madison Austin named All-State second team by Illinois Media
Mar. 25—The Illinois Media All-State girls basketball teams were released Tuesday, with a trio of Sauk Valley area players earning spots. In Class 3A, Sterling senior Madison Austin was voted to ...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
2025 NFL free agency: Best players available list headlined by Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen
There are still several big names left on the market. Will they end up with your team?Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Lauren Macuga is skiing fast and having a blast doing it
Lauren Macuga from Park City, Utah, finished the World Cup season fourth in downhill rankings. She's a medal contender for the 2026 Olympics.Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Swiatek gets extra security after harassment
World number two Iga Swiatek is receiving additional security at the Miami Open after she was harassed by a spectator during her practice.Media reports said that Swiatek was verbally harassed by a ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Raiders sign former Panthers veteran starting TE
Tuesday the Raiders added some depth to the tight end room with the addition of longtime Panthers TE Ian Thomas.Yahoo Sports - 7h
More in Sports
-
Jimmy's back in Miami: Follow live as the Warriors visit the Heat
The Golden State Warriors take on the Miami Heat with Jimmy Butler returning to face the team that traded him in January.ESPN - 11m -
Follow live: Rivals Brazil, Argentina meet in World Cup qualifier
nullESPN - 12m -
Ronaldo: Penalty miss? Knew Portugal would win
Cristiano Ronaldo had no doubt that Portugal would progress to the UEFA Nations League semifinals even after missing a penalty on Sunday.ESPN - 16m -
Blatter, Platini cleared in FIFA corruption case
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and France great Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss court on Tuesday.ESPN - 16m -
Güler, Szoboszlai continue feud: 'This guy a joke'
Real Madrid star Arda Güler called Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai "a joke" on Monday after the pair clashed in the UEFA Nations League game between Turkey and Hungary.ESPN - 16m