Similar to Watkins, UConn star Paige Bueckers tore her ACL ahead of her junior season (2022-23). She missed the entire year and was granted a redshirt. Bueckers utilized this by staying with the Huskies this season for her final year of eligibility, trying to win a national championship for the first time before joining the WNBA.

As the USC statement indicated, Watkins will require surgery and then rehab. In recent history, women’s basketball players have needed about a year to recover from a torn ACL. For example, UConn’s Azzi Fudd, LSU’s Sa’Myah Smith and Ole Miss’ KK Deans each tore an ACL in November 2023 yet returned to game action by November 2024.