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JuJu Watkins is back after 580 days: 18 points in USC's win over Cal, and why her comeback is special: my take

Opinion The author's own takes, written in his voice. The facts behind them are cited and linked.

By McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM · Certified WNBA player agent · Former certified NBA agent

Published October 25, 2026. Last updated October 25, 2026.

This post is opinion. The facts each take rests on are cited and linked, and the takes are mine. Watkins's return matters to college basketball and to the pro pipeline, covered in the WNBA draft eligibility guide.

What happened in JuJu Watkins's return?

USC beat Cal 78-76 in an exhibition at Galen Center on Sunday, October 25, 2026, per USC Athletics. Watkins played 23 minutes and scored 18 points with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, per the same recap. She made all six of her free throws, and she shot 6 of 14 from the field, per Yahoo Sports.

The game was tied 33-33 at halftime, per USC Athletics. Saniyah Hall led USC with 23 points and 5 steals, and Jazzy Davidson added 18 points and 7 assists, per USC Athletics.

Why 580 days?

Watkins tore her ACL in the NCAA tournament in March 2025, during her sophomore season, and missed all of 2025-26, per Yahoo Sports and Black America Web. USC counted 580 days away from competition, per its recap. She had been taking part in practices and scrimmages by June 29, 2026, per Black America Web.

My take: a return after that long is not measured by the box score. Eighteen points on 6-of-14 shooting and a perfect night at the line is a good first game. The bigger sign is 23 minutes in a close game against a team that fought to the end.

What did she do before the injury?

In 2024-25 she averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists, per Yahoo Sports. That season earned her the AP Player of the Year award, the Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year award, per the same report. The ESPYs named her the best college athlete in the country in 2025, per Yahoo Sports.

What does it mean for Cal and the Bay Area?

Cal gave the No. 3 team a real game. The Golden Bears shot 34.3 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three, and made 7 steals to USC's 14, per USC Athletics. Cal also had 45 rebounds to USC's 39, per the same recap. An exhibition result does not count, and I would not read the season into it.

For Bay Area families following the women's game, the college path from the local gym to Division I is in the Bay Area college basketball guide. The pro side is in the WNBA rookie contract guide.

What comes next for Watkins and USC?

USC plays UNLV on Monday, November 2 at 1 p.m. Pacific at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on CBS Sports Network, per USC Athletics. That is the first game that counts.

My view is that the right way to follow her is by minutes and health, not points, early in the year. That is a fan's take, not a medical one, and no medical details have been released by USC in the sources used here.