Angel Reese sends message to JuJu Watkins after March Madness injury horror

Angel Reese was among the many who sent well-wishes after JuJu Watkins' scary injury.

In the first quarter of USC's second-round matchup against Mississippi State at Galen Center, Watkins had the ball on the fastbreak and as she made her way to the basket, her right knee gave out, twisting and contorting as she fell to the court.

The star remained on the floor for many moments before she was carried to the locker room, unable to put any weight on it.

Her parents rushed down from the stands to be with her while her head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, promised the team will rally around her.

The Trojans soon revealed that Watkins would not return for the second half of the game, as her teammates and fans waited for official updates on the star's knee.

Among those watching from afar was Reese, who also sent her wishes to the USC star.

"Prayers for Juju!" the Chicago Sky star wrote on X, with a teary-eyed and hands together emoji.

Reese's former teammate and current LSU star Flau'jae Johnson also chimed in, stating: "I pray juju okay - hate to see it." NFL star wideout Dez Bryant added: "Prayers high for JuJu." On the other hand, WNBA star Dearica Hamby was critical with how ESPN continued to show Watkins' injury on the broadcast as well how close the cameras were to the injured star as she writhed in pain surrounded by her teammates.

"CAMERA PPL, STOP HOVERING OVER PLAYERS WHEN THEY ARE IN PAIN!!!!!" the Los Angeles Sparks star wrote on social media .

Though the basketball world held their breath regarding Watkins' injury, more news will be announced when USC's medical personnel have run the proper tests.

"JuJu Watkins is being evaluated by USC Keck Medicine staff and will not return to competition in tonights NCAA Second Round game," USC announced.

Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb added more information on Watkins' injury and shared that the team would be focused on what is happening in the moment, rather than what had already happened.

"She's not going to return for the second half, she's getting seen by our great medical team, and we have a group, and a fan base and a team that's going to have her back no matter what," Gottlieb told ESPN's Holly Rowe.

"She gives this community and all of us so much, so we've got her back no matter what it is." Looking for more to watch ? Peacock has hit shows, movies, live sports, and more.

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When Rowe asked if the team focused on Watkins or the second half game plan, Gottlieb admitted that it was a tight balancing act of her.

"It's a little bit of both," she continued.

"It's obviously talking about the X's and O's and what we need to do to win this game, and we have great confidence that we can keep the foot on the gas and go.

"But also understanding that we are a family all the time and that this is what we need to do, which is stick together.

And I know this team will do that because you don't get to make up who you are when something hard happens.

You are who you are all the time.

And JuJu's the toughest kid I know.

She's going to be good one way or the other.".

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