JuJu Watkins suffered an ACL injury in March 2025. Everyone in the sports world knows there are not many injuries worse than an ACL tear. So when Watkins got injured, everyone in the basketball community came together to support and wish for her speedy recovery. Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers was also one of them.
Former UConn Huskies star also had to miss out on one whole season due to an ACL tear. Her teammate Azzi Fudd also suffered that injury the very next season. So Bueckers certainly knew the struggles a player goes through. She acted like a mentor to Watkins and the USC Trojans star showed gratitude for that.
“Yeah, for sure. Honestly I’ve had so much love. I’ve been surrounded by so much love throughout the whole process, even from when it first started to now. I would say honestly Paige was like a big person for me. She [was] constantly checking up on me, sending me texts, just encouraging me. So, I really appreciated that,” Watkins shared in USC’s media availability ahead of the new season (8:08).
“But honestly, every person in the WNBA world who had gone through that or shared a similar experience just had nothing but love and support for me. So, I really appreciate that,” she added.
She hurt her right knee while dribbling past defenders during the first quarter of the NCAA tournament game vs Mississippi State. She immediately went down and winced in pain. Watkins missed the entirety of last season as she was sidelined due to surgery and a 14 month long recovery period.
Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins’ bond over the years
There has been a mutual respect and friendship between the two superstars ever since Bueckers’ college days. When Watkins joined the USC Trojans, Bueckers was coming back from the horrific injury.
Bueckers exchanged numbers with Watkins after her injury and said that she would be available for any support that she might need.
In December 2025, a few months after the injury, Bueckers talked about her advice to Watkins during Team USA’s media day. She shared that she had told Watkins to slowly work towards her recovery and get a sense of gratitude from the experience.
“Enjoy the process, she’s done a great job of attacking it and you start to get a taste of that love back,” Bueckers had said at the time.
The USC star has returned to training and is now practicing with the team. Her official comeback to the court for a college basketball game is still not definite. The staff will closely analyse her progress and take the day-to-day approach for her full fitness.
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