- 47 minutes ago
On the Rise: Juju Watkins - Season 2 Episode 4 -
The Road Back
The Road Back
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:01When it comes to March, the energy, the animosity, the pride.
00:07March Madness is everything.
00:09Last year, nobody expected us to win.
00:12This year, people expected us to win.
00:15Believing in the work, that's the biggest thing.
00:18I want us to be thinking excellence.
00:21We can't want it more than you do, trust me.
00:24We need to guard staggers to get to Spokane.
00:27I feel like I'm getting goosebumps now because March was just a moment where it's like, we're here.
00:33It was easy to believe we could achieve something as great as a championship.
00:40Welcome to the NCAA Women's Championship, Juju Watkins.
00:44She makes everything look so easy, but that's because she's put in all the hard work.
00:57All right, go ahead and hold it.
01:01Selection Sunday, we have a little party with the fans.
01:05We're going to find out who we're playing, where we're playing for the NCAA tournament.
01:09This is my second Selection Sunday, and it was cool to see so many fans and family there in Galen.
01:16Welcome to the NCAA Women's Selection Special.
01:2468 teams, all with one mission, call themselves national champion.
01:30Are you nervous?
01:32This ain't the part to be nervous about.
01:36I want to see where rematches happen.
01:38Rematches from last season's tournament, rematches from incredibly exciting games that we had this season.
01:44But we might see Notre Dame or UConn, depending on who are two seeded, if we get number one.
01:49Who's going to be the final one seed, you may be asking at home.
01:53You take a look at these comparisons of resumes with UConn and SC.
01:57UConn holds the number one spot in the net rank.
01:59How does UConn have a number one net ranking?
02:01They got a number one net ranking every year.
02:03I was just like, wherever we are, I really don't care.
02:06We play what we play, and the goal is to win, no matter who we're playing.
02:12Your final number one seed is those USC Trojans.
02:19Sitting at that two spot, it's the UConn Huskies.
02:22They so matchy, the NCAA putting UConn in our bracket.
02:25How do you feel if you're USC getting this bracket with UConn?
02:29Not too good.
02:30Because you have to go through the Huskies again to get to the final four, just like you did last year.
02:35I think that's probably a little frustrating.
02:37When I saw the bracket, I said, the winner of USC and UConn, whoever it is, will go on to win the national championship.
02:47USC women's basketball looking to cut down the nets.
02:53The madness begins for our Trojans right now.
02:57The opening tap is controlled by USC.
03:00Game one of two here at the Galen Center.
03:03Watkins with the jumper.
03:05She's got four.
03:06That moves her to ninth place on the all-time sporting list at USC.
03:15Watkins can't be stopped.
03:19And USC is on to round two in the NCAA tournament.
03:25Here we go.
03:26Ball goes up.
03:32Look at the drops for a three.
03:34Come on, Diki.
03:38All the way.
03:40Come on.
03:41Three-pointer.
03:42It's good.
03:45Debrecia Poe tripped up Diki.
03:48Right corner for Watkins.
03:50Tiptoes the baseline.
03:51Tries to send it left corner.
03:52She's tripped under the basket.
03:54There's Russell.
03:55Ten on the shot clock.
03:57Your infant on the switch.
03:59Tied it up.
04:00Took it away.
04:01More great defense from the Trojans.
04:06Watkins goes down hard, and she's grabbing her right knee,
04:09quickly grimacing in pain.
04:14First personal.
04:17This was the time I'm calling to the ground.
04:24Hey!
04:25How can I go to the back and make sure she's okay?
04:26That's a problem.
04:27I know.
04:28Yeah.
04:29Give me a second.
04:30I'll get you.
04:31Okay.
04:32Oh, it's hard for me to talk about it, just because it was...
04:33I don't know.
04:34Like, I just did that moment.
04:35It took me a second.
04:36I'll get you.
04:37Okay.
04:38I just did that moment.
04:39It didn't feel like something that was normal.
04:41Um...
04:58Oh, it's hard for me to talk about it, just because it was...
05:00I don't know.
05:01Like, I just did that moment.
05:02It didn't feel like something that was normal.
05:06so here we are you know and she gets carried off and and then what happened in this building
05:16is just an emotional response that I've never felt in an arena before
05:23it was very hard just I think everyone on the team it was very emotional
05:32her presence was definitely missed but we still had her back
05:35tonight by Rhea Marshall looks the other way for the freshman Kennedy Smith for two
05:47she's got the look in there like she wants 41 and she's got the ability to get there
05:53Marshall will launch for three off the window
05:58there's a lot of love and support right now for the players on the court and what they
06:06were able to accomplish and what they did through adversity tonight
06:09um thank you guys uh for being here um I don't have an update on juju because I know that's
06:20what what you all want to know um so players don't have any update um either as well so
06:25disrespectfully I'd ask you not to ask them something that they don't know
06:29they really did a good job in closing out the game and then you know just
06:35went through the whole process got an MRI drove back to Galen uh got the news
06:44the news and then yeah um I tore my ACL and that was it yeah
06:58her future is bright and I'm just wishing her my prayers out for her you know send a lot of love
07:19and prayers out to juju you can come back better than ever and sending the best to juju
07:23get better soon get well I love you bye get well soon juju get well soon get well we love you
07:31hope you get well soon juju hey guys surprise you're not really thinking like you know you get hurt and
07:40everyone in your community is is sharing that pain with you it's a big testament to humanity
07:47and then that to me it's like it's bigger than basketball basketball is one thing but it's so
07:52much it's so much bigger yeah yeah
07:55this journey she's about to go on is going to force her more than ever to go deeper within
08:09right and understand her purpose I was like I don't really want company right now so I think
08:17before seeing them I was like bro like I literally told you don't do this like I just need to be in
08:21my room with my blinds closed right now so that was me being a little dramatic but just you know just
08:28seeing them definitely lifted my spirits in the moment and uh they know what I need
08:34it wasn't ideal not to be playing in the sweet 16 but I'm super happy for them we had spent so
08:49much time getting to that point so to see them show up for big moments and just play their game I was
08:56really proud
08:56the Trojans aren't done dancing they are on to the Elite Eight for the second great season
09:15with the effort the fight the resiliency the cohesion from USC playing without the central hub of their
09:24team Juju Watkins and puts it on and it's a 5-4 game as we head to the door the lead is back to 15
09:32not all that good for USC but yeah the Connecticut Huskies are headed to a record 24-4
09:43what a game the Trojans played without their leader
09:46you know did a lot of praying this morning last night just pushing for the best
09:59way better than you
10:01that means go get there 30 minutes though of course
10:07scared but just happy to get it over with
10:16God our healer our provider and we ask that you take this baby and let you be with her every step of the way guide her parents and all the cousins and aunts and everyone Lord we just thank you and guide you Jesus that
10:34amen
10:41she was emotional
10:53lots of process going into surgery
10:56and all of us are together and and just praying we're good
11:03and just praying we're good
11:07yeah
11:09yeah I'll give her some more
11:11yeah I'll get you some more he said just read that read that she said she's in a lot of pain
11:15yeah we'll get that
11:17I know you're frustrated it's okay to drop a tear but you know you're gonna be okay
11:36you're gonna be just fine
11:39you need nothing on the table for nobody else to get though
11:46I have to give you kids
11:48I know you're not a green person but you didn't leave nothing for him
11:52you didn't leave nothing baby
11:53oh I don't know if he can
11:55yeah
11:56you're a beautiful person you're gonna be just fine
11:59just fine
12:01just fine
12:03first like major surgery so definitely nerve-wracking
12:07it was just kind of like okay now we can jump right into rehab
12:14after the surgery it was just like PT six days out of the week so just tackling that like I would anything on the court
12:21you feel like I'm running
12:22you feel like you're running
12:23usually the recovery time is like nine to twelve months
12:28going in the pool kind of helped me learn how to walk
12:29you know how to walk
12:30yeah
12:31no I'm not doing that
12:32no I'm not doing that
12:33no I'm not doing that
12:34no I'm not doing that
12:35I gotta do that
12:36yes
12:37after the surgery it was just like PT six days out of the week so just tackling that like I would anything on the court
12:41you feel like I'm running
12:42you feel like I'm running
12:43you feel like I'm running
12:44you feel like I'm running
12:45yeah
12:46usually the recovery time is like nine to twelve months
12:50sick at speed or should we bump it up a little bit
12:54going in the pool kind of helped me learn how to walk again because I wasn't able to put
13:01all of my weight on my leg yet it's hard to not kind of wish things were different but I think it's for the better
13:17the goal is to be a better player and person
13:20so she's inscribing her awards and all of her stats from last season
13:32Naismith or in wooden or if it's you know you win a final four national championship a super bowl
13:38kind of this is kind of the standard with us when we do the memorabilia
13:41so we always joke and say just don't be so good
13:45yeah
13:46I won a couple of awards the wooden award the Dawn Staley award Ann Myers Drysdale award
13:57to be recognized that way you know kind of after everything happened it was definitely bittersweet
14:04because it was like damn like just a mixture of like emotions I guess
14:09Juju Watkins big ten player of the year as a sophomore
14:13yeah I think this is one of my biggest goals this year
14:16I'm really proud of you that you've been named today the Naismith national player of the year
14:21I'm so incredibly honored to be receiving the wooden award
14:24and I definitely wish I could have been there in person receiving this award
14:28but nevertheless I am so grateful
14:30the awards were a reflection of the season that she had
14:34what I hoped was the injury didn't take away from that
14:37because it was truly an incredibly dominant season
14:41the whole city of LA you have the whole country and really just basketball and sports fans in general
14:47everyone behind you on this recovery process
14:50this is my first time kind of being outside in the public eye since the surgery so
15:00you know excited but also nervous
15:03we're going to the overtime event and I will be coaching
15:06we have like a little showcase overtime showcase
15:08so it's a lot of like girls from high school
15:11I didn't realize playing in practice could be that difficult
15:25so I empathize with all coaches
15:28we got a lot of young talent in the building
15:32here we go
15:35one
15:37two
15:39two
15:41I'm not really the most social person
15:44so I feel like that's going to require me to kind of step out of my comfort zone
15:48be a little more outgoing
15:50I think that's going to open up her portfolio right
15:53like her communication skills
15:54I think it's great for her to be more uncomfortable to take that role
15:58a lot of girls look up to her
16:00and you know I feel like she needs to do that
16:02we got to be on the same page
16:06are you ready?
16:07good
16:08three
16:11three
16:13two
16:14one
16:15yes
16:16okay
16:17break
16:19win
16:20team go on three
16:21one, two, three
16:22team go
16:23yay
16:24she been down for a minute
16:26so it's nice to see her in her element
16:29I am coaching against Flage
16:33I know Flage
16:34she's really cool people
16:35great player
16:36really cool person
16:38dope rapper
16:39I mean the list doesn't end
16:42thank y'all
16:43you're just so beautiful
16:44you're the one looking beautiful
16:47it's always you
16:48no mom you said hello
16:50okay yeah she coming
16:51I'm gonna make sure she comes please
16:52team go
16:53team go
16:54team go
16:55team go
16:56team go
16:57team go
16:58team go
16:59team go
17:00team go
17:01team go
17:02team go
17:03team go
17:04team go
17:05team go
17:06team go
17:07team go
17:08team go
17:09team go
17:10team go
17:11team go
17:12team go
17:13team go
17:14team go
17:15team go
17:16team go
17:17team go
17:18team go
17:19team go
17:20team go
17:21team go
17:22team go
17:23team go
17:24team go
17:25Four points, that's four points, right?
17:26And this is why she is the number one player.
17:37Daddy, moving the ball.
17:38Step back.
17:39Let me up, let me up, let me up.
17:46Your first ever O2 Select Takeover as a head coach,
17:48and you come out of here with a win.
17:49How are you feeling?
17:51You know, I feel great.
17:52I really owe it all to my team.
17:53I mean, they're just amazing.
17:55So I was honored to coach them, honestly.
17:59Two teams, Juju.
18:00Yeah!
18:09WNBA All-Star is, it's so much fun.
18:13One of the most exciting parts about All-Star for the fans
18:17is getting to see Juju again.
18:19When the beat goes off, we bang to the...
18:22Are you a big anime fan?
18:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:25Have you seen Kuroko, like the basketball one?
18:28No, no.
18:29Is that the one?
18:30That's my...
18:31I've only seen something where I'm like...
18:34It's actually like so well thought out.
18:37You should watch it.
18:37What's the news that we all were playing for?
18:40Without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce 2025
18:44College Player of the Year, Juju Watkins!
18:47So how has your weekend been treating you?
18:56It's been good.
18:57I've been having fun.
18:58I'm ready for the game tonight, for sure.
19:00Now, are you down to take some photos with a few fans?
19:02For sure.
19:03Oh!
19:05Okay, right.
19:06Do you see that Juju Watkins is my queen shirt?
19:09She's ready.
19:09I like your shirt.
19:12Thank you so much.
19:26I'm excited to be here, do all the appearances and stuff,
19:30and then get to see the games.
19:37So many players have sent me so much love.
19:39So to just be here supporting them and watching a great game,
19:44I'm really excited.
19:45Sabrina came over.
19:46She's definitely somebody that I look up to.
19:49I was really grateful that she took time.
19:55In the back of my head, I'm like, okay, this will be me in a couple years.
19:59But honestly, I was just enjoying the fan experience of it all
20:02and, you know, just seeing some of my favorite players play.
20:05Here we go, the 20-25 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game.
20:10Austin nailing those four-pointers in warm-ups.
20:14How about Paige?
20:15Oh, yeah!
20:21Showing off that famous left arm again.
20:25That will do it.
20:27Team Collier with a dominant win over Team Clark.
20:31151-131, the final.
20:36The vibe of women's basketball and how people are starting to pay attention.
20:39They're showing up every single night,
20:40and you can see that they're taking the game very, very seriously.
20:46Juju is one of the main names in college basketball.
20:49She draws inspiration from Candace Parker and now Asia Wilson.
20:53Just knowing that she stands on the shoulders of Giants
20:56who have carried this game for so long.
20:58Now she's a part of the tidal wave,
21:01the tsunami that's happening with women's basketball.
21:03And then just add the juju factor on top of that.
21:06It's unstoppable.
21:07My perspective has definitely changed since the injury.
21:11You can never take it for granted.
21:13And when things don't go your way,
21:14you can only use it as fuel to work even harder.
21:18I believe everything happens for a reason.
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