LOS ANGELES, CA — The wait lasted 580 days.

Trojans star senior guard JuJu Watkins finished Sunday’s exhibition against the California Golden Bears with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks in 23 minutes, helping USC earn a 78–76 victory. 

The numbers filled the box score. The welcome gave the afternoon its heart as Watkins returned with the support of teammates, coaches and fans who had waited to see her playing again.

After 580 days away from competition, USC’s JuJu Watkins made an immediate impact in her return to the court this past Sunday afternoon vs. Cal – Image Credit: Amber Douglas Rodriguez/Latino Sports

After a torn ACL interrupted her sophomore season during the 2025 NCAA Tournament and kept her out the following season—Sunday finally put an opponent in front of her and a USC crowd around her again.

Then came the plays that made the long absence feel a little more distant.

Across 23 minutes of play, USC’s JuJu Watkins finished off Sunday afternoon’s exhibition vs. Cal with 18 points,  three rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks – Image Credit: Amber Douglas Rodriguez/Latino Sports

Early in the first quarter at the Galen Center, Watkins rejected a layup attempt by Cal’s Taylor Barnes, bringing fans out of their seats. She went on to make six of her 14 shots from the field and all six of her free throws.

There was plenty to follow beyond her scoring. Watkins collected three steals and blocked two shots, leaving her fingerprints on possessions at both ends of the floor. For a crowd eager to see what her return would look like, there was something to cheer in nearly every column of her stat line.

And when USC needed a basket before halftime, she supplied it. With Cal ahead by two in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Watkins knocked down a step back jumper to bring the Trojans level at 33.

While USC led Cal in points off turnovers (18-4), paint points (46-28), fast break points (25-2), blocks (5-2), steals (14-7) and assists (18-13),  the Trojans limited the Golden Bears to 34.3% (24-for-70) from the floor – Image Credit: Amber Douglas Rodriguez/Latino Sports

Cal kept the afternoon competitive, pushing USC into a close finish. Even with the attention surrounding Watkins, the Trojans still had a game to settle.

Freshman Saniyah Hall introduced herself with a team-high 23 points, while Jazzy Davidson contributed 18 points and seven assists. 

Their performances gave USC several hands to turn to as the Golden Bears pressed.

“There were some great things we did, and then some things that just didn’t feel like the us that we’ve been practicing. That’s what an opponent will do: expose you and in real time,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said afterward. “There’s no question that both teams will get better from it, but I know our upward trajectory will be steep from this because I won’t let it any other way.”

It’s only up from here for USC Women’s Basketball with JuJu Watkins and the Trojans’ 2026-2027 regular season kicking off at the start of next month – Image Credit: Amber Douglas Rodriguez/Latino Sports

USC opens its regular season against UNLV on November 2nd in Las Vegas. Sunday offered only a first look at Watkins, but she gave the crowd plenty to recognize: the step back jumper, the reach to deny a layup, the ability to shape a game from either end of the floor.

After 580 days of waiting to see her play, we can finally start wondering what she’ll do next.