JuJu Watkins’ season-ending knee injury leaves a ‘big void’ in women’s NCAA Tournament

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Dawn Staley sent JuJu Watkins a text as soon as she saw the star Southern California sophomore suffer a season-ending knee injury on Monday night.It was “really tough” to see Watkins in pain, the South Carolina women’s basketball coach said.“JuJu is loved by all of us,” Staley added.Coaches and players all across women’s basketball, along with fans of the game, feel the impact of Watkins’ injury. The dominant USC guard and Associated Press All-America first-teamer will likely miss significant time, leaving the sport without one of its most transcendent stars during March Madness.How Watkins’ absence will affect the women’s Sweet 16 remains to be seen, though attendance and ratings are down from last season’s record highs for the women’s tournament that featured Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. But that shouldn’t come as surprise.After the record-setting numbers that tuned in for the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird showdown in the 1979 national championship, the ratings f...