JuJu Watkins, USC’s standout guard, will be sidelined for the entire 2025–26 women’s basketball season as she continues to heal from a right ACL tear suffered in the NCAA tournament’s second round. Her absence leaves the Trojans without their top scorer and on-court leader, placing greater expectations on the program’s rising talent to carry the load.
Among them is Jasmine Davidson, the nation’s top-ranked freshman recruit. Davidson’s versatility and court presence have already sparked comparisons to Breanna Stewart, with many expecting her to reshape USC’s play style and become the cornerstone of the team’s future.
JuJu Watkins’ Season-Long Absence Sets Stage for Trojans’ Next Breakout Star
USC began the 2025–26 women’s basketball season with questions surrounding its future after standout guard JuJu Watkins tore her right ACL during the NCAA tournament’s second round. The reigning National Player of the Year, who posted averages of 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals as a sophomore, was declared out for the full season.
Her loss left the 18th-ranked Trojans without their offensive anchor and emotional leader.
“JuJu’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we fully support her decision to focus on recovery this season,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “While we will certainly miss her impact on the court, she continues to play a vital role in our program as a leader and teammate.”
Watkins’ dominance helped restore USC’s national prominence, and her absence initially raised doubts about whether the team could sustain that momentum.
That question was answered just two games into the new campaign. The Trojans stunned No. 9 NC State in the Ally Tipoff on Nov. 8, a 69–68 win fueled by freshman Jasmine “Jazzy” Davidson’s breakout performance.
With 8.2 seconds remaining, Davidson cut to the rim, collected Kennedy Smith’s inbounds pass, and converted the game-winning layup. The 6-foot-1 guard ended the night with 21 points, 18 coming in the second half, alongside four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and five blocks. Her defensive dominance alone exceeded the combined total of every other player on the floor.
Analysts Kalia Butler and Sophia Jones broke down her performance afterward.
“We weren’t sure what this team was going to look like without JuJu Watkins, but they’ve made it very clear that they are here to compete,” Jones said.
Butler added, “When you’re looking at the star power that you’re losing in JuJu Watkins, I think they found that in Jazzy Davidson.”
She described Davidson as a “three-level scorer” with “great length” and “pull-up style of a Breanna Stewart maybe,” praising her ability to create shots and lift her team in crunch time.
Davidson, the nation’s top-ranked recruit, arrived at USC with an already decorated background: four-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year and a gold medalist at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup.
During that tournament, she produced a record-breaking 40 performance efficiency rating against Israel, the highest in USA Basketball history, surpassing previous marks by Breanna Stewart (33 in 2013) and Napheesa Collier (34 in 2015). In that game, she hit 11 of 13 shots for 24 points, dished eight assists, and added four steals, four rebounds, and two blocks in just 23 minutes.
Those numbers have drawn immediate comparisons to Stewart’s early career, and for good reason. Both entered college as the No. 1 recruit and McDonald’s All-American, and both excelled internationally. Both displayed an instinct for clutch performances.
