This Sunday, the No. 5 ranked USC Trojans kept their hot streak alive, surging to a 10-1 record on their march through the 2024-25 regular season. The team’s collective effort led to an absolutely dominant 88-30 win over Elon University.

As usual, the Trojans’ sophomore superstar, Juju Watkins, was the centerpiece of their success. She delivered an impressive performance, racking up 26 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field while adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. But not everything went smoothly for Watkins.

Despite putting on a show, her night took a worrying turn in the fourth quarter when she appeared to roll her ankle while fighting for a rebound. The star guard was visibly in pain as she limped off the court and headed to the locker room. Unfortunately, she didn’t return to the game.

By the time the injury occurred, USC was already up by a massive 54 points, making her presence on the court during such a lopsided blowout a questionable decision. But this isn’t her first brush with adversity this season.

For her, it is “Nothing I’m (she’s) not used to”

And that mindset traces back to earlier this year during the Pac-12 Tournament in March. It started in the quarterfinals against Arizona State, where a bruised and battered Watkins still managed to put up 17 points and grab 8 rebounds, propelling USC to a gritty 65-62 win. But that was just the beginning.

In the semifinals against UCLA, Watkins took a hard fall and injured her left ankle. She left the game briefly, only to return moments later. Unfortunately, she re-aggravated the injury midway through overtime, limping back onto the court to continue playing despite the obvious pain.

Her resilience on display, Watkins battled through heavy contact and still managed to dominate. She scored 33 points on 9-of-27 shooting, leading USC to a hard-fought 80-70 double-overtime victory. “Even when I went out, I knew I’d come back because my team needed me,” she reflected after the game.

When asked about playing through the injury, Watkins shrugged it off with characteristic toughness: “It’s just an ankle. Nothing I’m not used to. Feel great,” she told Luca Evans of the Orange County Register.

Watkins’ ability to push through adversity not only speaks to her competitive spirit but also hints at the unmatched potential she’s bound to unleash in the future.