JuJu Watkins injury update: Lindsey Gottlieb, ESPN broadcast gives additional details on USC star

USC is set to play the second half of Monday’s NCAA Tournament second-round game against Mississippi State without JuJu Watkins. She left during the first quarter after grabbing her knee and being helped off the court. The Trojans soon announced Watkins was still being evaluated but would not return.

Head coach Lindsey Gottlieb spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe coming out of the halftime locker room, providing another update on Watkins. She reaffirmed her star player’s status before showing support for whatever injury journey is ahead.

“Just that she’s not going to return for the second half, that she’s getting seen by our great medical team, and we have a group and a fan base and a team that’s going to have her back no matter what,” Gottlieb said. “She gives this community and all of us so much, so we’ve got her back, no matter what it is.”

Watkins leaves the game with just three points to her name, going 0-2 from the field. Free throws were how she got on the board, going three of four from the line. You can add two assists and a rebound to the stat line too.

USC walks back onto the court with a sizable lead against Mississippi State. One foot appears to be in the Sweet Sixteen thanks to the 50-27 scoreline. Two more solid quarters and the Trojans will be advancing, even without Watkins on the court.

Kansas State will be waiting on the other side but until tip-off, the game will be far from the main storyline. Watkins and her long-term health will take priority.

Holly Rowe reveals JuJu Watkins is leaving Galen Center due to no MRI machine

Rowe later added to the situation with a report in the third quarter. She says Watkins has left the Galen Center due to no MRI machine being present. A hospital in Los Angeles is where Watkins is heading to get imaging done and give USC a better idea of the exact injury.

“Just wanted to update you further,” Rowe said. “There is not an MRI machine here at the Galen Center, so we did see JuJu Watkins be wheeled out of the building where we are believing she will be going to a Keck Medical Center for further (MRI) imaging. You can only do so much with a manual ligament test and so we will keep you posted when we know more.”