Paige Bueckers 'Sick to My Stomach' After JuJu Watkins' Knee Injury in NCAA Tournament

UConn guard Paige Bueckers told reporters she was "sick to her stomach" after hearing news that USC guard JuJu Watkins suffered a season-ending torn ACL in her right knee.

"Just sick to my stomach," Bueckers said when asked about her reaction to the news.

"I didn't watch the video. I can't watch that stuff. It makes me just sick in general. Devastation obviously, you just empathize for her because I've been in that position where you have this devastating injury. She had it at a time where it's just the worst timing. You're playing for a national championship, competing, playing with your team during the season, so you just feel for her.

"But then again, you know that JuJu didn't get that great by not having a great work ethic and a motor and just a determination to conquer everything in front of her, so you know she'll dominate this journey, dominate this process, and come back even better and just use it to fuel her and grow her really."

Bueckers also said that the two have connected and that she's available as a resource for Watkins as she goes through the rehab process if need be.

Bueckers has overcome significant injuries during his career, including a tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear that cost her 19 games in 2021-22 and a torn ACL in her left knee that sidelined her for all of 2022-23.

But Bueckers overcame it all and is now averaging 19.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds en route to leading the No. 2 seed Huskies, whose NCAA tournament run is ongoing in the Sweet Sixteen against Oklahoma on Saturday. She's also declared for the 2025 WNBA draft and should be the No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Wings.

Bueckers would be a great resource for Watkins, who is a sensational talent in her own right with a bright future. The two-time unanimous first-team All-American has a long road back to the court, but she can certainly conquer it en route to finding her pre-injury form and dominating the sport once again.