PORTLAND, Ore. —
She steeled herself, wiped her tears and took the dais. JuJu Watkins answered the first question without a hitch after USC’s season ended abruptly on Monday in the Elite Eight with a loss to Connecticut. But it was the mention of her teammates that finally broke the freshman.
USC’s star guard buried her face in her hands as she thanked “the best teammates in the world.” She tried to say more. She stopped herself as her voice grew thicker with emotion.
Guard McKenzie Forbes, seated to her left, patted Watkins on the leg.