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USC's NCAA Tournament run hit a heartbreaking low on Sunday when JuJu Watkins, the Trojans' breakout freshman star, tore her ACL during the second half of their Round of 32 clash against Mississippi State. It wasn't just a loss on the scoreboard-it was a gut punch to the team and fans alike.
Watkins had been the engine behind USC's deep tournament push. Averaging 27 points per game and drawing comparisons to legends like Diana Taurasi, she brought star power and swagger to a program on the rise. Her injury left the arena stunned-and left a gaping hole in USC's game plan moving forward.
Tributes came in quickly. WNBA players, coaches, and fans across the sports world showed love and for the 18-year-old phenom. But amidst the outpouring of , a media slip-up sparked a separate firestorm
The Mistake Heard Around the Sports World
During a segment on ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith mistakenly referred to JuJu Watkins as "JuJu Smith-Schuster"-the NFL wide receiver. The moment was flagged by journalist Sara Jane Gamelli, who took to X to voice her frustration: "This is exactly why women's sports still struggle for respect."
Social media took it from there. The backlash against Smith was immediate and relentless. Fans criticized the mistake as careless and emblematic of a larger issue-how women's sports are too often treated as an afterthought.
Smith has yet to comment on the incident, but the clip has made its rounds online, adding to ongoing conversations about media responsibility. Meanwhile, Watkins is expected to undergo surgery soon, according to ESPN's Holly Rowe. USC's season may be over, but Watkins' story is far from finished