When USC and Connecticut met in the Elite Eight, in the immediate wake of JuJu Watkins ' devastating knee injury last March, it didn't take long to see how much USC missed its superstar. As hard as the Trojans fought, the Huskies were simply too much to handle without Watkins. That thought, nine months later, hadn't been given much serious credence at USC through a solid 7-2 start.
"Juju's investment marks a groundbreaking moment for women's sports and the power of NIL," Boston Legacy owner Jennifer Epstein said. "As the first college athlete to directly invest in a women's professional sports team, she's showing that today's student-athletes aren't just building their own brands -- they're shaping the future of the game. "We're thrilled to welcome Juju to Boston Legacy FC as we build momentum toward our inaugural 2026 season and home opener on March 14, 2026."
"These last few months have been filled with a lot of healing, rest, and reflection," Watkins posted to her Instagram story. "Recovering from this injury hasn't been easy, and I want to say thank you -- your love, support, and kind words have truly lifted me up during one of the most challenging times in my life. "Because you've been with me every step of the way, I wanted you to hear it from me directly that following the advice of my doctors and trainers, I will sit out this season and fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love."