LAS VEGAS — On Monday at T-Mobile Arena, on the occasion of JuJu Watkins returning to the court, Las Vegas turned into Los Angeles.
The Jumbotron aired the Trojan pregame video, featuring the team and Los Angeles’s skyline, with the slogan, “the pLAce to be.” The announcer went through the starting lineup, anticipation building up for Watkins to be announced. As she stood from her seat, Trojan fans roared with applause.
”At guard, a 6’2 senior from Los Angeles, JuJu Watkins!” the announcer exclaimed. The crowd roared as she high-fived her USC teammates and took the court for the first time in 588 days, playing 25 minutes and scoring 21 points in a 100-68 win over UNLV.
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“It’s hard to describe how much this team has her back,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb told reports after the game. “It’s just a group that really cares for her as a human being, and obviously loves playing with her, loves playing with each other. So just day by day, having you know the cohesiveness come together. We know what she’s capable of. I mean, imagine not playing a game for 580 something days when you love the game that she does.”
Watkins returned to USC following a torn ACL she suffered during the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournament. She was sidelined during the 2025-26 season after averaging 23.9 points per game, along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks.
“I started my career here and now, senior year, being back in the same place, it definitely is full circle,” Watkins told reporters ahead of Monday’s match. “I’m just really grateful to be back on the floor again and share the floor with my team and have fun.”
The first quarter was a battle between both teams. Despite Jazzy Davidson getting the first points of the game and a free throw from Saniyah Hall, the Lady Rebels bounced back with a 3-pointer from Jasmyn Lott.
The Rebels took the lead with another basket from freshman guard Jayla Constant, and with the Trojans’ offensive struggles, the Lady Rebels walked the court with confidence.
The tides changed after Watkins was fouled by Lott, securing the and-1 on the layup. She completed the three-point play, getting USC back in a groove and sending them on a run.
The Trojans had back-to-back steals, converting them to points, including one from Watkins, who scored on the layup. Watkins ended the quarter with six points, a steal, two rebounds, and a foul, and USC led, 29-15. By halftime, Watkins scored 10 points and added three rebounds.
“Yeah, it was amazing,” Davidson told reporters after the game. “Just seeing all the hard work she put in all throughout last season to get healthy and to get better, and on top of that, just the way that she was there for all of us. She was a great mentor to me. It was amazing.”
The third quarter was all Watkins and the Trojans as they outscored the Rebels, 31-10. Watkins picked up 11 points, including another layup off a steal.
Every single time Watkins scored, T-Mobile Arena erupted in applause. The amount of Trojan fans drowned out the sound of the Rebel fans. However, almost everyone in the arena was ecstatic to see Watkins back on the court, even Lady Rebels head coach Lindy La Roque.
“You know, as a women’s basketball fan, frankly, I was happy to see her out there,” La Rocque told reporters after the game. “You know, in warmups, just like hopefully the rest of you. You know, she’s got a bright future ahead, and it’s great just to get her back out on the court.
“To be totally transparent, our game plan wasn’t centered around her, nor was it centered around any one player because they’re so talented. The combination of those guards and Jazzy and JuJu and Saniyah, they’re very good. I thought we did a fairly good job, and they each, you know, got over 20 points. So, and that’s again a credit to their full roster. JuJu is only going to get better. You know, I do believe that. I was happy to play her early. I wouldn’t want to play her end of November and end of December, because she’s only going to get better.”
Despite the loss for the Lady Rebels, playing Watkins and players of her caliber is beneficial. Both teams won two quarters each, with USC winning the first and third quarters respectively. USC outscored the Rebels in the first quarter 29-15 and 31-10 in the third quarter.
And Watkins proved her resiliency and showed early, positive signs of chemistry with this year’s Trojans. With Hall and Davidson, the three combined for a total of 66 points.
Plenty of women’s basketball luminaries saw her up close. Las Vegas Aces coaches Becky Hammon and Nola Henry were spotted courtside for the match, alongside assistant coach Larry Lewis, general manager and president Nikki Fargas, and point guard Chelsea Gray.
USC alum and former Houston Comets great Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was spotted alongside the USC bench for the game. Former Stanford standout Jennifer Azzi was in attendance as well.
“It was great to just be out there with my team again,” Watkins told CBS Sports after the victory. “To see the first one [basket] fall through, it really helped. I’m just grateful to be out here today.”
As the Trojans went to the locker room, fans lined up along the baseline to cheer on their team and potentially get an autograph. Fans wore merchandise supporting Watkins, and held her SLAM Magazine cover and custom USC-themed shoes.
“The game is just better with her in it, and I think you’ll see her continue to get even just you know sharper, more comfortable,” Gottlieb told reporters after the game. “But the team just loves playing with her, and they love playing with each other.”
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