Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Caitlin Clark is showing her support for JuJu Watkins following the USC star’s heartbreaking injury in Monday’s NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi State.
Watkins went down in the first quarter after planting awkwardly on a fast break, causing her right knee to buckle violently. She collapsed in obvious pain and had to be carried off the court. While USC cruised to a 96–59 victory, the celebration was short-lived—Watkins was diagnosed with a torn ACL later that night and now faces a lengthy recovery.
On Tuesday, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark took to X (formerly Twitter) to send a heartfelt message:
“Sending all my thoughts and prayers to JuJu,” Clark wrote. “Kid will come back stronger than ever.”
The 19-year-old Watkins, Big Ten Player of the Year, now sees her sophomore season come to a devastating end. She’s not eligible for the WNBA Draft until 2027 and may take a medical redshirt next season, given the timing of the injury.
Watkins might now look to follow in the footsteps of UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who returned strong after missing an entire season with a torn ACL of her own. Bueckers is now projected to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft and has UConn on the brink of another NCAA title run.
Clark, known for uplifting fellow players across women’s basketball, continued to show that leadership and solidarity with her message to Watkins during this difficult moment.