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On the Rise_ Juju Watkins - Season 2 Episode 1 - Season Opener
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Short filmTranscript
00:00England Center's Grand Finale, with the final spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
00:07The question is, can you stop Juju Watkins?
00:15Different intensity level for USC on both ends of the floor.
00:21So top of the key, down the left side of the lane, goes up on here again, ripped by Kiki,
00:26ahead to Watkins for USC, down the right side of the lane.
00:30And she grabs her knee as she goes down.
00:35Watkins is holding the underside of her knee in a lot of pain.
00:41Stunned silence inside Galen Center.
00:49I will tell you, I've covered a lot of knee injuries in my time.
00:52The angle of the replay does not look good.
00:54It would be a surprise if this isn't a significant knee injury.
01:00I think it was definitely, like, denial.
01:09Like, there's absolutely no way this is happening to me right now.
01:13Went through the whole process, got an MRI, drove back to Galen.
01:17Got the news.
01:22And then, yeah.
01:28Told the team and that was it, yeah.
01:32Juju Watkins, unfortunately, a torn ACL ended her season.
01:43We wish her a healthy and speedy recovery.
01:45Do you think this is the last time we'll see Juju Watkins on the college basketball court?
01:50No.
01:51We expect our stars to be invincible.
01:54Nothing's supposed to happen.
01:55Watching Juju Watkins in pain like that, it was gut-wrenching.
01:59It's really heartbroken for her.
02:01There we go.
02:02Now we got some range.
02:03So let's go for ten.
02:05Three.
02:07Juju's loved by all of us.
02:09She's a phenomenal player.
02:11I think she is sensational.
02:13I'm just wishing her.
02:13My prayers are for her.
02:15Hopefully that she'll make a full recovery.
02:18I'm going to lift right here.
02:20Is that helpful?
02:20It's not really moving fast, in my opinion.
02:29It's just week three.
02:31I've been underground.
02:33Like, I'm not integrating back into society until I figure this out.
02:38Last measurement of the day.
02:41Go ahead.
02:42Here we go.
02:51Is that your max?
02:54It's just the thought of, like, damn, this isn't really what I'm doing right now.
02:58But I'm just trying to get back to my old self at this point.
03:05That's the goal.
03:06What's up with this Juju effect?
03:20She has a chance to be the greatest women's player ever.
03:23This sister is something special.
03:25Juju has the impact.
03:26Juju walked in as good as advertised.
03:32Is Juju overpaid?
03:34Every 20 to 25 years, you come across an athlete that's just different than everyone.
03:42Juju is that athlete.
03:50The mural, that had to be, like, one of the top moments for me.
03:53The fact that I'm driving past that, like, a lot is crazy.
03:57I saw it, like, every day.
03:58Rock out, she was like, get on the stage.
04:00Open it up, we got the rave.
04:02Yo, yo, yo.
04:03Now I know.
04:05She is one of the premier names globally.
04:09She's changing the landscape for female athletes.
04:12We all go, we all go, we all go, we all go, we all go, oh, oh.
04:17The Super Bowl commercial was insane.
04:19A partnership with Nike, Gatorade.
04:24You need a good Juju?
04:24Juju Watkins.
04:26State Farm.
04:27She's bringing fans from all over the world to see her play and play at a very high level.
04:32This is just the start of who she is and what she means to women's basketball.
04:40Paris, hello.
04:53LA, we miss you, but this is pretty cool.
04:55Good morning, people.
04:56We are in Paris, and it is going to be a day.
04:59Bye, Dom.
05:00To kick off the season in Paris is really cool for the sport.
05:04Hey, guys, we just got done with our beautiful boat dinner, and right now we are voting back
05:16to the Eiffel Tower.
05:17We're literally going by the Eiffel Tower right now.
05:20It's all lit up, glowing, it's super pretty.
05:25When it's basketball, it's becoming more of like a global thing, so to see I have supporters
05:30in France is something that I never really fathom.
05:37Today, we just have like a youth clinic with a bunch of little girls from France.
05:45Cinq, cinq.
05:46Okay.
05:47La première.
05:51No, no, no.
05:52La quipa à dix.
05:54La quipa à dix.
05:57Five or ten.
05:59Yeah, dix.
06:00Un, deux, trois.
06:03Take a step back.
06:06No, no, no.
06:09No!
06:12D, D, U.S.C.
06:13Un, deux, trois.
06:14Un, deux, trois.
06:16U.S.C.
06:18That was so good.
06:19Guys, my French, my French just increased by 30.
06:23I had so much fun.
06:24Everybody, you know, it was kind of hard to, you know, communicate, but it was fun.
06:29I think they had a good time.
06:31You know, me, I speak French, so it was a little easier for me.
06:34Uh-oh.
06:34Yeah!
06:34Yeah!
06:35Yeah!
06:35Yeah!
06:36Yeah!
06:36Yeah!
06:37Yeah!
06:37Yeah!
06:38Yeah!
06:38Yeah!
06:39Yeah!
06:39Yeah!
06:40Yeah!
06:41Yeah!
06:42Yeah!
06:43Yeah!
06:43Yeah!
06:44Yeah!
06:45Yeah!
06:46Yeah!
06:47Yeah!
06:48This is a team coming into the Big Ten, who I'm expecting to make a really deep run,
06:53be a Final Four team.
06:54They've added some really nice pieces.
07:00Good.
07:01Um, look at this beautiful arena, right?
07:03Play basketball all over the world.
07:04This is where Paris Basket plays.
07:06We get to open up the college season here, but make it feel like home today.
07:10Ready, go!
07:13The U, obviously, having UU returning was going to put us in a different echelon of ability
07:19and also expectation.
07:20But you've got to go make sure you have the players and the pieces that can help you achieve
07:25what you want to achieve, so we added Kiki Aria-Fenn to the group.
07:29She was coming from Stanford, so I knew that, you know, she was kind of under some pressure
07:34just in terms of, like, leaving her old team.
07:37It was just a matter of getting to know one another.
07:41Go one more time!
07:42One more time!
07:43It's one thing to have a lot of talent on paper, it's another thing to be a really,
07:46really high-functioning basketball team, and that's my challenge in trying to figure
07:49that out.
07:50Ole Miss, a very, you know, mature team, they played with each other for a couple years,
07:58so it's definitely, like, going to be a tough matchup.
08:02The work is in, y'all.
08:03The work is in.
08:06So let's enjoy, let's mentally go through with our minds later tonight, get off our feet
08:10and get ready for game day tomorrow.
08:11One, two, three!
08:12Let's see!
08:13Four, five, six!
08:14Family!
08:19We welcome you inside Adidas Arena in Paris, France, for a terrific matchup to tip off our
08:32college basketball season.
08:34Number three USC taking on number 20 Ole Miss.
08:38So much excitement for the start here today and for this season.
08:42Ole Miss is a formidable opponent.
08:45We knew going in they were going to pressure us, they're tough, they're intense, way more
08:49veteran than us.
08:52Ole Miss wreaking defense is having.
08:55Watkins gives it up.
08:58Heppo gets tripped.
08:59No call.
09:00It really boils down to experience, and I think when you have a new team and don't really
09:04have that, it's just, like, we're just trying to kind of find our feet and, like, everybody's
09:08trying to figure out their roles.
09:11Yes!
09:12Here we are.
09:13Here we are, Ben plays it in.
09:15The Stanford transfer looking right at home for Juju Watkins.
09:18Come on with your kids!
09:20Hooray!
09:25That first half in particular, I thought we were very tough.
09:27We got some transition buckets.
09:29Then the second half, the pressure really heated up.
09:34Needs step back two.
09:35You pick!
09:36And Ole Miss lead is two.
09:42Watkins stood up, twists away, gives it up.
09:44Von Oloffen on the drive.
09:46Von Oloffen, unable to bank it in but gets the whistle.
09:51You're a new soul.
09:54Go slow.
09:56Go slow.
09:57Go slow.
09:58Go slow.
10:00One stop.
10:01And then we have to rebound.
10:04We're getting that started out clunky.
10:06We got a good one here.
10:07We showed a lot of toughness and a lot of grit to not fold, to fight back.
10:14I wasn't nervous.
10:15I wasn't worried.
10:16I was like, okay, let's see what we're making.
10:21Two free throws here.
10:24Kiki Nurya-Fenn, the transfer from Stanford.
10:29As neither do you all see the lead back.
10:33Hey, listen.
10:33We just got to get a stop.
10:35We just got to get a stop.
10:36Regular principles.
10:38Because we don't want them to get a check.
10:39Out.
10:40Teams is out.
10:41Hey.
10:42No fouls.
10:43Clean defense.
10:45No and ones.
10:45Clean defense.
10:47No threes, no foul.
10:48But we got to get a stop still.
10:51Inbound.
10:55In this time.
10:56Here's Maddie Scott.
10:58Maddie Scott, three seconds left.
11:00Scott Williams leaning as it's stripped away.
11:03That will do it.
11:04UFC is on.
11:07In Paris.
11:10I thought it was a really big win and a big moment.
11:13And a really good gut check for us in the first game against a tough team.
11:17But also provided just some really good intel of, hey, here's where we are and here's where we're capable of going.
11:23And I was really excited about that.
11:25How about better going home from Paris with a win than anything else?
11:28We should be uber grateful for the experience, right?
11:32And be really excited to say, how does this make us better for anything that we might fix?
11:39Not a great display of, you know, what we're capable of on both sides of the ball, defense and offense.
11:45But, you know, a win is a win.
11:48Now we can go back home and watch all that film and learn.
11:51I think this is just the beginning of something great.
12:08Here's what is mandated.
12:09Two sets.
12:11Two sets.
12:11If you want to go above and beyond two sets, feel free to do so.
12:15But our two sets for our floor press need to be work sets, not warm-up sets.
12:20We got time.
12:21We'll go two rounds, ten of everything.
12:24Questions, comments, concerns?
12:25Okay, ma'am.
12:26All right.
12:27I'm just...
12:28AGA here, somebody got a hoot in us, TVO, let's go!
12:30Work on three, one, two, three!
12:32Hey!
12:33T-shirt, man, quick!
12:36That's the fourth one.
12:37And sleep around on our line, push up!
12:40I was hyped for weeks before Notre Dame.
12:43The expectation was that it was going to be kind of a heavyweight battle between two great teams.
12:46For us, it's about being mentally sound and mentally tough, to know that when the lights
12:55are the brightest, that we're prepared to be the best that we can be.
12:59You know, when it comes down to the wire, it's like, who's ready?
13:11Who's the most prepared?
13:12All right, she's there.
13:15Nope.
13:16Okay, keep ducking in.
13:17Yep.
13:18Just tell her!
13:19Give it to her!
13:19Give it to her!
13:20She's there!
13:20She's there!
13:21She's there!
13:21Give it to her!
13:21Go again!
13:22Go again!
13:24With Notre Dame, I mean, they're just such a greedy team.
13:27I'm just excited to play another top team.
13:31I mean, this is our first, like, top-ten matchup.
13:38Go ahead, guys.
13:39One at a time.
13:41Go ahead.
13:42Go a little forward, guys.
13:43Walk a little forward.
13:47I'm really excited to see DJ Lovins.
13:50I like her hairstyle.
13:52What you got up there?
13:53Touch it, touch it.
13:56Touch it, touch it!
13:56How about the juju, Joelle?
13:59Ooh.
13:59Yes!
14:03I don't know that it was planned to just do the juju buns for the game days.
14:09I think it organically just happened.
14:12It kind of evolved into, like, our bonding moments.
14:15Does it feel stable?
14:21The identity just kind of attached itself to her.
14:25I just came out here to support him to get the bun, because the bun looks good.
14:29We put him in ponytails, but a lot of people say that they look like Juju's bun.
14:35You got little girls wearing a bun to be like Juju.
14:39It's like, I want to be like Mike.
14:41We all grew up wanting to be like Mike.
14:44She's having that type of effect on the game.
14:47You have to be so special to have that type of effect.
14:51To see these young girls out here, you know, inspired by her, just melts my heart.
14:57I had, like, just random people coming up to me like, oh, your mom didn't do your hair yet.
15:05So, yeah, it's a little embarrassing, but I guess it's cute.
15:10I saw Simone Biles' mom does her hair too, so that made me feel a little better about it.
15:16Love you.
15:17Have a good game.
15:27Notre Dame's an elite, great team.
15:30Without question, I thought a Final Four contender.
15:34Hidalgo, another steal.
15:35And coast to coast.
15:36Hannah Hidalgo is one of the frontrunners for Player of the Year, and her now with a healthier Olivia Miles has been a dangerous backcourt.
15:50But the parity in women's basketball over time has gotten more prominent.
15:56There is no clear frontrunner for number one team.
16:02I think that we're ready, and we know it's a big challenge.
16:05But I don't think you know what to expect until you're in it.
16:16We welcome you in to Big Ten Basketball, through what should be a competitive and exciting early season Top Ten matchup.
16:25This is the place to be on a Saturday afternoon.
16:28Snoop Dogg, Michael B. Jordan, Candice Parker, and also Cheryl Miller.
16:34Every year, though.
16:37Created the foundation for what we're seeing right here, a sold-out crowd.
16:42Notre Dame is a great team, and they're coming to USC.
16:45What's up, dude?
16:46What's up, dude?
16:47I thought my breaking a switch was good, but it'll make a little bit right?
16:49Of course, of course, of course.
16:50What's up? I'm proud of y'all.
16:51You know what I'm saying? I've been watching y'all for a minute, and I'm hyped to see this game.
16:55What do we got on three?
16:56I thought my pregame speech was good, but this makes a moment, right?
16:58Of course, of course, of course.
17:00I'm proud of y'all.
17:01You know what I'm saying?
17:02I don't know y'all, y'all don't mean, but I've been watching y'all for a minute,
17:05and I'm hyped to see this game.
17:07What do we got on three?
17:08Win on three?
17:09One, two, three.
17:10Yeah!
17:11Did you know?
17:12I know.
17:13I made it.
17:14I made it.
17:16Both of these teams are coming to this one undefeated off the season.
17:20Let's go.
17:21Let's go.
17:22Let's go.
17:23Let's go.
17:24Let's go!
17:25Let's go!
17:26Let's go!
17:27Time is on a work!
17:28On a work!
17:29Here comes Tyler.
17:31Miles gets it to the lane.
17:33This is a strike.
17:35But, like, Donald puts it up for two.
17:37They threw the first punch and the second punch,
17:40and we got our ass kicked out of the gate.
17:44The anticipation, cross-court pass.
17:47The one, two, backcourt, putting on a show early.
17:50It's such a blessing to be able to play at home and play in front of so many fans. I think my mindset was just to
17:57To play my game
17:58Then not let their defense make me a little bit scrambled
18:10We knew it was coming and yet we just sort of let them get out in transition
18:16Juju in particular they were all over
18:20against Watkins
18:22She's been waiting for that matchup
18:40Somehow miraculously we're down seven and it could have been three, but we didn't execute the game plan a number of times
18:46Stop living in your own individual worlds
18:50What can't step through?
18:52Oh
18:54Dates moving
18:56Watkins gets the rebound keeps it
18:58With pace
19:00I thought we showed some fight in that third quarter. I thought Juju asserted herself
19:04I thought we showed some fight in that third quarter.
19:07I thought Juju asserted herself.
19:09Stripped away by Watkins.
19:11Watkins, stay...
19:13Juju Watkins is double figures now.
19:22But I think we looked like a team at that point.
19:26Who expected it to be easy?
19:30We got lucky there.
19:32That was another costly title.
19:34Over where Notre Dame has gotten off and got it.
19:36It's proving to be part of the difference in this game.
19:38Absolutely.
19:42They're kicking off.
19:43So we can look like they're kicking off and be defeated.
19:46Or we can look like we're trying to fight and become something.
19:50It's different playing at home.
19:53There's so many people that you want to perform for.
19:56And, you know, when you don't get that right outcome at home, especially, it's like, it's heartbreaking.
20:08It was a really tough loss.
20:22I think we all took it very personally and, you know, kind of made a vow to ourselves that we were going to continue to push through the season and do whatever it took to become a team that was super connected and just locked in.
20:37This is an elite eight rematch.
20:42Utah got the upset of the one-seeded USC team.
20:45These teams have been waiting on this for the entirety of the season.
20:49We're going to have three lines.
20:56Three.
20:58Three.
20:59Two lines.
21:00Oui?
21:03Bro, I'm not saying this right.
21:04Just say.
21:05Just say.
21:06OK.
21:07The first team has 10.
21:10It's good.
21:11What is that?
21:12Two.
21:12Two.
21:13Two.
21:16Oh!
21:19One, two, three.
21:26USP!
21:29Good job!
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