The UCLA Bruins got a break this past season with JuJu Watkins missing the season for the USC Trojans due to a torn ACL. UCLA took full advantage, winning their first NCAA title and having their winningest season without having to face Watkins.
UCLA won’t have that luxury this season. Watkins, the best women’s college basketball player in the country, is ready to roll for the 2026-2027 season and the Trojans have a stellar supporting cast around her.
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USC’s Jazzy Davidson just won the United States Basketball Writers Association Freshman of the Year award during Watkins’ absence. Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb wasn’t done adding, with No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall heading to Los Angeles to join forces with Watkins and Davidson.
On Saturday, Sports Central LA had UCLA head coach Cori Close on as a guest commentator, while Watkins was interviewed, she was asked about her return and what the Bruins accomplished while she was sidelined.
“She’s good people,” Watkins said of Close. “I’d say congrats, they’re coming off of a national title. I’d just say congrats and keep it at that.”
Close, who is fresh off of a contract extension, threw a bit more love Watkins’ direction.
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“I’m excited about her. She was politically correct right there. But I’m so pumped to be a part of the USC-UCLA rivalry,” Close said. “The reason it’s really fun is both teams, both sets of coaches, are really, really good. I’m excited to have JuJu back, she’s going to make me a better coach, she’s going to make us gameplan more strategically and she’s going to help us grow women’s basketball in LA.”
USC has the firepower to answer last season with an NCAA title of their own, but Close and the Bruins will try and make sure that doesn’t happen.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: USC’s JuJu Watkins calls UCLA head coach Cori Close ‘good people’
