ESPN Facing Major Scrutiny Over Their Head-Scratching Decision Following JuJu Watkins’ Devastating Injury
After JuJu Watkins’ heartbreaking season-ending injury, ESPN made a decision that has left fans confused and frustrated. Many are questioning the network’s judgment, while others argue there’s more to the story. Social media is buzzing—did ESPN cross the line, or is the backlash unnecessary?
JuJu Watkins (Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images)
USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins was left screaming in agony after appearing to suffer a serious right knee injury in the first quarter of the Trojans’ Second Round game.
With just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter of the NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup between USC and Mississippi State, Watkins was attempting to drive towards the basket on a transition play before getting fouled by Chandler Prater.
She would grab for her right knee immediately.
Her pain was captured by ESPN.
It was a moment that was already devastating and heartbreaking, and not many people appreciated ESPN’s decision to continue to show close-up footage of JuJu Watkins in pain.
“I’ll just say, I don’t appreciate how long the camera stayed on Juju when she went down. Switch angles, go to commercial, something! But don’t continue broadcasting,” one fan said.
“The camera zooming in on Juju crying in pain is so f–king unnecessary!! wtf ESPN!” a second fan added.
“ESPN’s choice of photo for JuJu’s injury is disgusting & blatantly insensitive. IK her girlies were worried about her in the moment, I just wish they would’ve huddled closer to her only/mainly for that reason. That weird USC treatment is the same on both coasts. I wonder why? 🤔” another fan stated.
“CAMERA PPL, STOP HOVERING OVER PLAYERS WHEN THEY ARE IN PAIN!!!!!” WNBA star Dearica Marie Hamby commented.
One final fan added: “And also replaying the injury. We got it. It’s unnecessary. It’s torturous. Not everything needs to be televised.”
Watkins is a back-to-back first-team AP All-American, finishing the regular season averaging 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
JuJu Watkins Has A Long Recovery Ahead of Her
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 25: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans defends and inbounds pass by Zakiyah Franklin #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Galen Center on March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
USC star JuJu Watkins suffered a torn ACL during her team’s 96-59 win over No. 9 seed Mississippi State in the second round of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Watkins went down during the first quarter and was writhing on the floor in pain. It was so bad that she needed to be carried off the floor without putting any weight on her injured leg.
Watkins is likely to be out for nine months, which means she will miss a large part of the 2025 season.
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