Image Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

JuJu Watkins Injury: USC’s March Madness Odds Take a Major Hit After Star Suffers Season-Ending Injury

Watkins’ season-ending injury will dent the USC’s title hopes.

Image Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

JuJu Watkins tore the ACL in her right knee during the Trojans’ 96-59 win over Mississippi State in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Mar. 24. USC guard will undergo season-ending surgery and the Trojans’ odds to win the March Madness plummeted after the injury.

According to Polymarket, USC’s odds to win the NCAA tournament before Juju Watkins’ injury were +950 and they were projected as one of the favourites to win the March Madness this year. USC had the fourth-best odds to win the National Championship. Following JuJu’s ACL injury, USC’s odds to win March Madness reached +5100.

USC superstar, Juju Watkins, tore her ACL last night and will miss the rest of the season💔

USC's odds to win March Madness BEFORE Juju tore her ACL: +950
USC's odds to win March Madness AFTER Juju tore her ACL: +5100

via @Polymarket pic.twitter.com/eot4nx25eO
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) March 25, 2025

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As per new odds by BetMGM, UConn and South Carolina are frontrunners to win the National Championship. South Carolina are the favorites to win the title at +220 and get the competition from UConn at +240. Texax are tied with the Trojans at +700 on BetMGM.

Updated Women’s NCAA Championship Odds:

Odds via BetMGM

1. South Carolina: +220

2. UConn: +240

3. UCLA: +525

6. USC: +700

4. Texas: +700

5. Notre Dame: +900

6. NC State: +3500

7. Duke: +5000

8. TCU: +5000

USC’s chances of winning the NCAA Championship have dropped to 10.4% after Watkins tore her ACL. They have the fourth-best odds to win the NCAA Tournament on BetMGM. South Carolina have an implied 31.2% chance to win the March Madness this year.

Watkins’ season-ending injury will dent the USC’s title hopes. JuJu averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocks before the surgery.

USC will now rely on freshman guard Kennedy Smith and senior KiKi Iriafen. Smith averaged 9.2 points per game and Iriafen averaged 18 points per game. The latter scored 36 points on 16-for-22 shooting in a second-round win over Mississippi State. Kennedy Smith tallied 10 points and five steals.

No. 1 seed USC will take on No. 5 seed Kansas State in the NCAA Sweet 16 on March 29. If the Trojans win this game without JuJu, they can potentially have the matchup with UConn, who knocked out USC in the Elite 8 last year. Juju Watkins was top performer with 25 points when USC last beat UConn on Dec. 21.

Image Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

JuJu Watkins

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.