Caitlin Clark’s powerful words of encouragement for injured USC star JuJu Watkins

The Indiana Fever All-Star and Iowa Hawkeyes legend posts her support after the devastating injury to the current Big Ten Player of the Year.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) cheers on her former teammates Thursday, March 6, 2025, in a round two game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Michigan State Spartans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With news that JuJu Watkins’ sophomore season with the USC Trojans came to a devastating end with a torn ACL suffered in Monday night’s NCAA tournament game, an outpouring of support from other athletes flooded in. One of those on Tuesday was from WNBA Rookie of the Year and college legend Caitlin Clark.

Watkins, 19, was racing down the court vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first quarter when she was bumped for a foul and awkwardly collapsed, clutching her knee and screaming in pain. The crowd at the Galen Center fell silent as the generational star was down.

Support immediately poured in from WNBA Chicago Sky star Angel Reese and others.

RELATED: NFL QB Jayden Daniels sees USC’s JuJu Watkins scary injury in-person

The hoops community sending love to Juju Watkins after her injury 💜 pic.twitter.com/Sm2iOFhX57

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) March 25, 2025

While it was confirmed it was indeed the dreaded ACL news the team feared, suddenly the landscape of the Sweet 16 changed, but more importantly Watkins’ season, who was poised to maybe bring USC its first national title since 1984.

Indiana Fever All-star Caitlin Clark, who was a college legend for the Iowa Hawkeyes and former Big Ten Player of the Year like Watkins is this season, posted some heartfelt words with an encouraging message for the injured star.

Sending all my thoughts and prayers to JuJu. Kid will come back stronger than ever ❤️

— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) March 25, 2025

Those who know Watkins know how strong and determined of a player she is, and no doubt she will work as hard as ever to come back stronger like Clark said.

Speaking of strong, her teammates showed their strength in the 96-59 win over over Mississippi State. Afterward, coach Lindsay Gottlieb gave a heartfelt message to the team that had Watkins’ back.

Southern California Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb addresses the locker room after their Second Round win 🙌#MarchMadness x @USCWBB pic.twitter.com/8rlcfYjhqN

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 25, 2025

USC plays the Kansas State Wildcats in the Sweet 16 on Thursday without their star, but they won’t show any quit just like Watkins will now.

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives to the basket past Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Jerkaila Jordan (2) during the first quieter of an NCAA Tournament second round game at Galen Center. | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images