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JuJu Watkins Returns in USC Exhibition Win Over California

USC guard JuJu Watkins scored 18 points in an exhibition victory over California following a 19-month absence due to a knee injury.

FTMQ Sports, written by our newsroom0 views

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The No. 3 ranked USC Trojans women’s basketball team defeated the California Golden Bears 78-76 in an exhibition match at the Galen Center on Sunday. Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports both reported that guard JuJu Watkins returned to the court for the first time in 19 months, or 580 days, after recovering from a torn ACL. She suffered the injury during the 2025 NCAA Tournament and subsequently missed the entire 2025-26 season. [1][2]

Sports Illustrated reported that Watkins played 22 minutes in the contest. She recorded 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks during her playing time. [1]

As FTMQ Sports reported earlier, Watkins was named to the preseason AP All-America team. USC holds the No. 3 ranking in the national Associated Press poll, while Yahoo Sports noted that Watkins won the ESPY award for the best college athlete in the country in 2025. [2][10]

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In short

  • USC defeated California 78-76 in an exhibition game at the Galen Center.
  • JuJu Watkins returned to action after missing 19 months with a torn ACL.
  • Watkins recorded 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]JuJu Watkins Turns Heads in Official Injury Return Before Anticipated SeasonSports Illustrated, 1h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]USC women’s basketball defeats Cal in exhibition, Juju Watkins returnsYahoo Sports Top, 11h ago
  3. [3]Cris Collinsworth Turns Heads With Unusual Praise of Patrick MahomesYahoo Sports Top, 19h ago
  4. [4]Travis Kelce’s Physical Appearance Turns Heads Before Seahawks GameYahoo Sports Top, 22h ago
  5. [5]Arch Manning Loses His All-SEC Left Tackle for the Season After Knee Injury Against Ole MissYahoo Sports Top, 4h ago
  6. [6]What Happened to Dontayvion Wicks and When Will He Return? Latest on Eagles WR’s Injury and Why He’s Out for Week 7 vs. CowboysYahoo Sports Top, 2h ago

Background

  1. [7]Owen Hargreaves on Wikipedia
  2. [8]Hannah Hidalgo on Wikipedia
  3. [9]Season on Wikipedia
  4. [10]Sarah Strong and JuJu Watkins Lead Preseason AP All-America Roster FTMQ Sports, 4d ago

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 10 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Related from FTMQ Sports

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

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