JuJu Watkins Out with ACL Injury

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. JuJu Watkins Out for the Season with ACL Injury 💔🥺

USC has confirmed that sophomore phenom JuJu Watkins suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during Monday night’s win over Mississippi State. She’ll undergo surgery, ending her season and beginning a long recovery process. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: ACL injuries often require up to 12 months of recovery, meaning Watkins is not only done for this season, but could also miss the entire 2025–26 campaign.

It’s a devastating blow to USC and to women’s basketball fans everywhere. Watkins was in the midst of a record-setting season and had become one of the sport’s biggest stars. Now, her rise pauses while she rehabs, and USC will have to retool quickly without their leading scorer. The injury brings new challenges for a player already carrying the weight of high expectations.

2. Four Finalists Crowned for Naismith Player & Coach of the Year 👑

The 2025 Naismith finalists for both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year were announced this week:

🗓️ Winners will be announced Wednesday, April 2 during the Women’s Final Four. (Naismith Awards)

WHY IT MATTERS: This year’s race for POY is wide open. All four stars put up dominant seasons and powered their teams into the NCAA Tournament. Bueckers and Watkins are both repeat finalists, and Bueckers previously won the award in 2021 as a freshman.

The coach’s award is a different story. Every coach on this list has led their program to prominence, but Mark Campbell’s case is particularly compelling. In just two years, he’s transformed TCU from a 1–17 Big 12 bottom-dweller into a national contender, pulling off one of the most impressive program turnarounds in recent memory.

3. DII Final Four Tips Off Tonight 4️⃣

The NCAA Division II Final Four gets underway tonight after two weeks of postseason battles. The final matchups:

• No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills vs. No. 7 Union (TN) — 6 PM ET

• No. 1 Grand Valley State vs. No. 4 Pittsburg State — 8:30 PM ET

📺 Watch live on ESPN+ and explore the full bracket 👉 (NCAA)

WHY IT MATTERS: Top-seeded Grand Valley State, out of Allendale, Michigan, is the team to beat. This marks their third trip to the Final Four, and they’ve reached the Elite Eight three times in the past decade—a testament to the program’s consistency and strength. But don’t overlook Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Southern California program is making its first-ever Final Four appearance after an incredible 35–1 season, and they’re more than capable of pulling off a statement win.