Overview
- Watkins is cleared to play after a 19-month rehabilitation that began with a right ACL tear on March 24, 2025, and she is expected to take the floor for USC’s season opener versus UNLV.
- USC enters the season ranked No. 3 in preseason polls and is widely discussed as a national-championship contender now that Watkins will share the court with 2025–26 Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson and top recruit Saniyah Hall.
- Betting markets and expert panels place South Carolina and UConn as co-favorites at about +250 each while USC sits near a close third tier at roughly +450, reflecting concentrated expectations at the top of the sport.
- Coach Lindsay Gottlieb and Watkins have emphasized careful load management and a focus on chemistry as the Trojans ease the star guard back into game action after she spent last season leading from the bench.
- Early marquee matchups this week — including UConn vs. Michigan and South Carolina’s heavy nonconference slate — will provide the first clear tests of whether preseason rankings and market odds accurately reflect the championship landscape.