Gatorade’s 2025 March Madness campaign is called “The Take.” It begins with Juju Watkins sharing her thoughts on what she has given to the game and contemplating what she has taken from it.
I was at Galen Center when a player suffered a season-ending knee injury. In early September 2023, the Los Angeles Sparks were displaced from Crypto.com Arena due to a scheduling conflict and played against the Washington Mystics. Both teams were fighting to secure a playoff spot after disappointing seasons plagued by injuries. On that night, there would be one more. We sat courtside when Kristi Toliver went down right in front of us. She writhed in pain, screaming and crying, while the arena fell silent.
I reflected on that moment as I watched a similar incident happen to Juju Watkins during the USC Trojans’ second-round game of this year’s NCAA tournament under those same lights. Despite having tickets, we weren’t in Galen last night. I’m glad we chose not to go. I’d rather not have the shrieks of another beloved player etched into my mind.
Injuries suck.
Throughout the season, I have admired Juju’s resilience. She frequently absorbs contact during games, showcasing a remarkable ability to stay balanced, square to the basket, and focused even after being bumped. It is part of the special sauce that makes her an elite scorer. However, these attributes also make her a high-usage player, rarely leaving the court and with the ball often in her hands. This combination proved problematic in the early minutes of a physical game against Mississippi State. Sadly, what she gave last night was her knee.
Paige Bueckers is also featured in that Gatorade ad. She understands what Juju is going through right now. Having endured the surgery, the long recovery, the return to play, the bouts of self-doubt, the adjustments, the heartache, and frustration, she is now once again playing at an elite level.
What does it take to return to a sport you love, especially when it has also caused you immense suffering? The physical demands are one aspect; the mental challenges are another. How tough must you be to return to a court and trust your body again?
This is one of many reasons I’m not an elite athlete.
We all face challenges, though, and these moments in sports remind us that, even if it requires everything we have, we must rise again.
That’s what it takes.
See you soon, Ms. Watkins.
