JUJU IS BACK: Watkins Drops 18 in 23 Minutes in Return After 580 Days Out

After 580 days out with a torn ACL, USC star JuJu Watkins returned Sunday and dropped 18 points in 23 minutes in an exhibition win over Cal.

LOS ANGELES — After 580 days out with a torn ACL, USC star JuJu Watkins returned Sunday and dropped 18 points in 23 minutes in an exhibition win over Cal.

She missed all of last season. Now the Trojans are ready to run it back — and Nike wasted no time, commenting on her highlight reel: “And she's just heating up.”

It was the kind of return that reminds everyone what the sport missed: efficient, explosive, and barely warmed up.