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On the Rise_ Juju Watkins - Season 2 Episode 4 - The Road Back
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00:00When it comes to March, the energy, the animosity, the pride.
00:12March Madness is everything.
00:14Last year, nobody expected us to win.
00:17This year, people expected us to win.
00:20Believing in the work, that's the biggest thing.
00:23I want us to be thinking excellence.
00:26We can't want it more than you do, trust me.
00:28We need to guard Staggers to get to Spokane.
00:32I feel like I'm getting goosebumps now because I'm like, March was just a moment where it's like, we're here.
00:37It was easy to believe we could achieve something as great as a championship.
00:44Welcome to the NCAA Women's Championship, Juju Watkins.
00:48She makes everything look so easy, but that's because she's put in all the hard work.
00:58All right, go ahead and hold it.
01:06Selection Sunday, we have a little party with the fans.
01:10We're going to find out who we're playing, where we're playing for the NCAA tournament.
01:14This is my second Selection Sunday, and it was cool to see so many fans and family there in Galen.
01:20Welcome to the NCAA Women's Selection Special.
01:3068 teams, all with one mission, call themselves national champion.
01:36Are you nervous?
01:37You ain't excited.
01:38This ain't the part to be nervous about.
01:41I want to see where rematches happen.
01:44Rematches from last season's tournament, rematches from incredibly exciting games that we had this season.
01:49But we might see Notre Dame or UConn, depending on who our two seed is, if we get number one.
01:54Who's going to be the final one seed, you may be asking at home.
01:58You take a look at these comparisons of resumes with UConn and SC.
02:02UConn holds the number one spot in the net rank.
02:04How does UConn have a number one net ranking?
02:06They got a number one net ranking every year.
02:09I was just like, wherever we are, I really don't care.
02:12We play what we play, and the goal is to win, no matter who we're playing.
02:17Your final number one seed is those USC Trojans.
02:24Sitting at that two spot, it's the UConn Huskies.
02:27They so messy, the NCAA putting UConn in our bracket.
02:30How do you feel if you're USC getting this bracket with UConn?
02:34Not too good.
02:35Because you have to go through the Huskies again to get to the final four, just like you did last year.
02:39I think that's probably a little frustrating.
02:42When I saw the bracket, I said, the winner of USC and UConn, whoever it is, will go on to win the national championship.
02:51USC women's basketball looking to cut down the nets.
02:58The madness begins for our Trojans right now.
03:02The opening tap is controlled by USC.
03:05Game one of two here at the Galen Center.
03:09Watkins with the jumper.
03:10She's got four.
03:11That moves her into ninth place on the all-time scoring list at USC.
03:16Watkins can't be stopped.
03:23And USC is on to round two in the NCAA tournament.
03:29And here we go.
03:31Ball goes up.
03:37Look at the drops for a three.
03:39Come on, Tiki!
03:42All the way!
03:44Come on!
03:46Three-pointer.
03:47It's Gerardo.
03:50Debrecia Poe tripped up Tiki.
03:53Right corner for Watkins.
03:54Tiptoes the baseline.
03:56Tries to send it left corner.
03:57She's tripped under the basket.
04:00Here's Russell.
04:01Ten on the shot clock.
04:03Erin's been on the switch.
04:04Tied it up.
04:05Took it away.
04:06More great defenses from the Trojans.
04:10Watkins goes down hard as she's grabbing her right knee,
04:14quickly grimacing in pain.
04:16I'm going to attempt to bring her first personal.
04:21This is the time I'm calling to the corner.
04:33Hey!
04:36How can I go to the back and make sure she's okay?
04:38It's a problem.
04:39I know.
04:39Yeah.
04:41Give me a second.
04:42I'll be talking.
04:42Okay.
04:43Okay.
04:43Oh, it's hard for me to talk about it just because it was, I don't know.
05:06Like, I just, in that moment, it didn't feel like something that was normal.
05:14So here we are, you know, and she gets carried off.
05:19And then what happened in this building is just an emotional response that I've never felt in an arena before.
05:28It was very hard.
05:35Just, I think, everyone on the team, it was very emotional.
05:38Her presence was definitely missed, but we still, like, had her back.
05:40And then, like, she's got the look in there, like, she wants 41.
05:56And she's got the ability to get there.
06:00Marshall will launch for three off the window!
06:03There's a lot of love and support right now for the players on the court and what they were able to accomplish and what they did through adversity tonight.
06:20Thank you, guys, for being here.
06:23I don't have an update on Juju because I know that's what you all want to know.
06:27So players don't have any update either as well.
06:30So, just respectfully, I'd ask you not to ask them something that they don't know.
06:35They really did a good job in closing out the game.
06:38And then, you know, just went through the whole process, got an MRI, drove back to Galen, got the news.
06:51And then, yeah.
06:55I tore my ACL, and that was it, yeah.
07:03Her future is bright, and I'm just wishing her, and my prayers are for her.
07:23You know, sending a lot of love and prayers out to Juju.
07:25You can come back better than ever.
07:27And sending the best to Juju.
07:28Get better, sir!
07:29Get well, Juju!
07:30Get well!
07:31I love you, bye!
07:32Get well soon, Juju!
07:33Get well soon!
07:34Get well!
07:35We love you!
07:36Hope you get well soon, Juju!
07:38Hey, guys!
07:40Surprise!
07:42You're not really thinking, like, you know, you get hurt, and everyone in your community is sharing that pain with you.
07:50It's a big testament to humanity.
07:53And then, to me, it's like it's bigger than basketball.
07:55Basketball is one thing, but it's so much bigger.
07:58It's so much bigger.
07:59Yeah.
07:59Yeah.
08:00Yeah.
08:00I know.
08:00No, I know.
08:02No, I know.
08:03No, I know.
08:05No, I know.
08:05No, I know.
08:06No, I know.
08:06No, I know.
08:07This journey she's about to go on is going to force her, more than ever, to go deeper within,
08:14right, and understand her purpose.
08:18I was like, I don't really want company right now.
08:21So I think before seeing them, I was like, bro, like, I literally told you don't do this.
08:25Like, I just need to be in my room with my appliance closed right now.
08:29So that was me being a little dramatic, but just, you know, just seeing them definitely
08:36lifting my spirits in the moment, and they know what I need.
08:39It wasn't ideal not to be playing in the Sweet 16, but I was super happy for them.
08:53We had spent so much time getting to that point.
08:56So to see them show up for big moments and just play their game, I was really proud.
09:09The Trojans aren't done dancing.
09:16They are on to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.
09:20They have to be impressed with the effort, the fight, the resiliency, the cohesion from
09:26USC, playing without the central hub of their team, Juju Watkins.
09:30And to the end, and it's a 5-3 team as we have done.
09:35The lead is back to 15.
09:37Not all that good for USC.
09:41And the Connecticut Huskies are headed to a record 24-4.
09:49What a game the Trojans played without their leader.
09:59You know, did a lot of praying this morning last night, just pushing for the best.
10:04Way better than you, Mike.
10:06If I can't drive.
10:08That means go get there 30 minutes, girl.
10:11Of course.
10:16I'm scared.
10:17But I just have to get it over with.
10:21I guess.
10:21God, our healer, our provider, we ask that you take this baby and let you be with her every
10:42step of the way.
10:43Guide her parents and all the cousins and aunts and everyone.
10:46Lord, we just thank you and guide you.
10:49Jesus, amen.
10:49Amen.
10:54She was emotional.
11:00Lots of process going into surgery.
11:03And all of us are together and just praying, we're good.
11:11Yeah.
11:12Yeah, I'll give her some more.
11:19I'll get you some more, he said.
11:22Just read that.
11:23Read that.
11:23He said she's in a lot of pain.
11:25Yeah, we'll get back.
11:34I know you're frustrated.
11:36It's okay to drop a tear, but you know, you're going to be okay.
11:41You're going to be just fine.
11:48You didn't leave nothing on the table for nobody else to get, though.
11:51I have to give you a kiss.
11:53I know you're not a greedy person, but you didn't leave nothing for them.
11:57You didn't leave nothing, baby.
11:59Oh, I don't know.
11:59Yeah.
12:00Yeah.
12:01You're a beautiful person.
12:03You're going to be just fine.
12:05Yep.
12:06Just fine.
12:07First, like, major surgery, so definitely nerve-wracking.
12:15It was just kind of like, okay, now we can jump right into rehab.
12:30Are you ready to put your hand in the water tub?
12:32No, I'm not doing that.
12:34I got to do that?
12:35Yes.
12:35After the surgery, it was just, like, PT six days out of the week, so just tackling that
12:43like I would anything on the court.
12:45I feel like I'm running.
12:47You feel like you're running?
12:51Usually the recovery time is, like, nine to 12 months.
12:55Is it good speed or should we bump it up a little bit?
12:59Going in the pool kind of helped me learn how to walk again because I wasn't able to put
13:06all of my weight on my leg on my leg yet?
13:09It's hard to not kind of wish things were different, but I think it's for the better.
13:21The goal is to be a better player and person.
13:24So she's inscribing her awards and all of her stats from last season.
13:37Naismith or in Wooden, or if it's, you know, you win a Final Four national championship,
13:42a Super Bowl.
13:43Kind of, this is kind of the standard with us when we do the memorabilia.
13:45So we always joke and say, just don't be so good.
13:49Yeah.
13:51I won a couple of awards.
13:56The Wooden Award, the Dawn Staley Award, Ann Myers-Drysdale Award.
14:02To be recognized that way, you know, kind of after everything happened, it was definitely
14:07bittersweet because it was like, damn, like, just a mixture of, like, emotions, I guess.
14:14Juju Watkins, Big Ten Player of the Year as a sophomore.
14:18Yeah, I think this is one of my biggest goals this year.
14:21I'm really proud of you that you've been named today the Naismith National Player of the Year.
14:26I'm so incredibly honored to be receiving the Wooden Award.
14:30And I definitely wish I could have been there in person receiving this award.
14:33But nevertheless, I am so grateful.
14:35The awards were a reflection of the season that she had.
14:39What I hoped was the injury didn't take away from that because it was truly
14:43an incredibly dominant season.
14:46The whole city of L.A., you have the whole country and really just basketball and sports
14:51fans in general, everyone behind you on this recovery process.
14:55This is my first time kind of being outside in the public eye since the surgery.
15:05So, you know, excited but also nervous.
15:08We're going to the Overtime event and I will be coaching.
15:11We have, like, a little showcase, Overtime showcase.
15:13So, it's a lot of, like, girls from high school.
15:16And this is really sponsored by State Farm.
15:18What's up, man?
15:19What's up, coach?
15:20What are we doing?
15:21What are we doing?
15:22Um...
15:23I don't know.
15:24All right, come on.
15:25Let's get on with that.
15:26I didn't realize playing in practice could be that difficult, so I empathize with all
15:32coaches.
15:33We got a lot of young talent in the building.
15:36I'm not really the most social person, so I feel like that's going to require me to
15:51kind of step out of my comfort zone and be a little more outgoing.
15:55I think that's going to open up her portfolio, right?
15:58Like, her communication skills.
15:59I think it's great for her to be more uncomfortable to take that role.
16:03A lot of girls look up to her, and, you know, I feel like she needs to do that.
16:08We've got to be on the same page, y'all.
16:11Ready?
16:12Are you ready?
16:13Good.
16:14Three.
16:15Wait.
16:16You did, you did.
16:17Three, two, one.
16:19Yes!
16:20Yes!
16:21Okay.
16:22Break.
16:23Man.
16:24Keep going on three.
16:26One, two, three.
16:27Keep going.
16:28Yay!
16:29She's been down for a minute, so it's nice to see her.
16:32It's nice to see her and her element.
16:34I am coaching against Flagee.
16:37I know Flagee.
16:38She's really cool with people.
16:39Great player.
16:40Really cool person.
16:42Dope rapper.
16:44I mean, the list doesn't end.
16:46Thank y'all.
16:47You're just so beautiful.
16:48I understand what, Susie?
16:49You're the one looking beautiful.
16:51It's always you.
16:52No, mom, you said hello.
16:54Okay, yeah, she coming.
16:55I'm like, sir, she comes, please.
16:56Three, two, one.
16:57You ready?
16:58You ready?
16:59You ready?
17:00You ready?
17:01You ready?
17:02You ready?
17:03Yeah.
17:04Me too.
17:05Yeah.
17:06Stay me ready.
17:07Bro, you got 18?
17:08How far along?
17:09I don't know.
17:10I get searched through on Monday.
17:11Oh, geez.
17:12I know.
17:13All right, so y'all know who we came to do.
17:15Yeah.
17:16This is what I roll on the board today.
17:23That's all I need.
17:29Four points.
17:30That's four points, right?
17:31And this is why she is the number one player.
17:41Daddy, moving the ball.
17:43Step back.
17:44Let me go!
17:45Let me go!
17:46Let me go!
17:47Let me go!
17:51Your first ever O2 Select Takeover as a head coach, and you come out of here with a win.
17:54How are you feeling?
17:55You know, I feel great.
17:57I really owe it all to my team.
17:58I mean, they're just amazing.
18:00So, I was honored to coach them, honestly.
18:04To team Juju?
18:05Yeah!
18:06Yeah!
18:07Yeah!
18:14WNBA All-Star is so much fun.
18:18One of the most exciting parts about All-Star for the fans is getting to see Juju again.
18:27Are you a big anime fan?
18:29Yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:30Have you seen Kuroko, like the basketball one?
18:33No, no.
18:34Is that the one?
18:35Is that the one?
18:36That's my...
18:37I've only seen clips of it where I'm like...
18:38I love that one.
18:39It's actually so well thought out.
18:41You should watch it.
18:42You should watch it.
18:43This is what we all were talking about.
18:44Without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce 2025 College Player of the Year, Juju Watkins!
19:00So, how has your weekend been treating you?
19:01It's been good.
19:02I've been having fun.
19:03I'm ready for the game tonight, for sure.
19:05Now, are you down to take some photos with a few fans?
19:07For sure.
19:08Oh!
19:09Do you see that Juju Watkins is my queen shirt?
19:13She's ready.
19:16Thank you, thank you.
19:29Congratulations on everything.
19:30Thank you, thank you so much.
19:31I'm excited to be here, do all the like appearances and stuff, and then get to see the games.
19:39So many players have sent me so much love.
19:44So, to just be here supporting them and watching a great game, I'm really excited.
19:49Sabrina came over.
19:51She's definitely somebody that I look up to.
19:54I was really grateful that she took time.
20:00In the back of my head, I'm like, okay, this will be me in a couple years.
20:04But honestly, I was just enjoying the fan experience of it all.
20:07And, you know, just seeing some of my favorite players play.
20:10Here we go, the 20-25 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game.
20:15Austin nailing those four-pointers in warm-ups.
20:18How about Payne?
20:19Oh, yeah!
20:20Showing off that famous left arm again.
20:25That will do it.
20:27Team Collier with a dominant win over Team Clark.
20:32151-131, the final.
20:34The vibe of women's basketball and how people are starting to pay attention.
20:39They're showing up every single night.
20:41And you can see that they're taking the game very, very seriously.
20:47Juju is one of the main names in college basketball.
20:50She draws inspiration from Candace Parker and now Asia Wilson.
20:53Just knowing that she stands on the shoulders of giants who have carried this game for so long.
20:58Now she's a part of the tidal wave, the tsunami that's happening with women's basketball.
21:01And then just seeing that she's a part of the world.
21:04And she's a part of the world.
21:06The tsunami that's happening with women's basketball.
21:08And then just add the juju factor on top of that.
21:11It's unstoppable.
21:12My perspective has definitely changed since the injury.
21:16You can never take it for granted.
21:17And when things don't go your way, you can only use it as fuel to work even harder.
21:22I believe everything happens for a reason.
21:36It's a much better from them.
21:38No.
21:48I don't think the disease is gigantesca housekeeping.
21:50I lose a little bit, but it almost is lost that feeling.
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