JuJu Watkins is all the way back. In just her second game since tearing her ACL, the USC star dropped 32 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals as the No. 3 Trojans crushed Utah State 118-40 on Sunday night, as reported by ClutchPoints.
She did it in only 27 minutes, shooting 10-of-19 from the field, 4-of-7 from deep and 8-of-9 at the line. Per ESPN Insights, that made her the first Big Ten player in the last 25 years to post at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game.
The IAHHM Take
Remember where this started. Watkins went down in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and missed the entire 2025-26 season. That’s a long time on the sideline for a player who was already one of the faces of the women’s game. Two games into the comeback, she’s not easing in. She’s stuffing the stat sheet like nothing happened.
And she’s not doing it alone. USC had six players in double figures, led by Saniyah Hall’s 20, with Jazz Davidson, Sara Okeke, Sitaya Fagan and Laura Williams all chipping in. The Trojans have now scored 100 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1986. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the country.
Women’s hoops has become appointment viewing, from the college ranks to the WNBA. A healthy JuJu running with this kind of supporting cast changes the national title conversation overnight.
What’s Next
USC hosts Charleston on Nov. 11 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Catch more college hoops coverage in our Sports section.
Is JuJu Watkins already the best player in college basketball again, or does she need a few more weeks to prove it? Let us know.
Source: ClutchPoints
