JuJu Watkins and USC’s Quest to Ignite Joy Amidst Los Angeles’ Turmoil

LOS ANGELES — JuJu Watkins along with her Southern California women’s basketball teammates hosted several distinguished guests in the locker area.

Cherie Nelson, who remarkably held the program’s scoring record for many years due to her 50-point performance, was among the Trojan alumni present at Galen Center. She brought along her 98-year-old mother, whose residence in nearby Altadena was devastated by wildfires.

“She mentioned she had been following our successes and wanted to meet JuJu and the team, although her mother lost her house,” Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb shared. “Amid all this, it was uncertain whether they would attend, but her mother insisted, ‘No, I wish to see the USC women’s team play.’”

They were part of an energized crowd of 5,881 attendees, which included actress Vivica A. Fox and numerous children during one of the initial sporting events in Los Angeles since the wildfires commenced. The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are scheduled to return to action after previous game delays.

“I viewed it as a wonderful chance to have some enjoyment,” Watkins conveyed. “The atmosphere here in LA feels a bit somber, so our aim was to present a performance and uplift spirits for a few hours.”

Watkins netted 35 points, and Kiki Iriafen contributed 28 in the fourth-ranked USC’s 95-73 triumph over Penn State.

Watkins, Iriafen, and Rayah Marshall hail from Los Angeles, while Kennedy Smith is from nearby Chino and Clarice Akunwafo comes from Inglewood.

“This week has been challenging for LA and personally for me as well, especially hearing the stories,” Watkins remarked. “People I know have been impacted too. It’s definitely weighed heavily on our hearts.”

Iriafen is a resident of the San Fernando Valley, an area at risk due to the Palisades fire. Even though her family wasn’t directly impacted, she shared that individuals close to her have lost their homes or have had to evacuate.

“We are truly striving to spread positivity, do everything we can in terms of donations, and I’m quite prayerful, so I’m engaged in that as well,” Iriafen said.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to be here today and play basketball. If we can bring a smile to people’s faces for two hours or provide them an escape from the current situation, we’re very thankful to have that opportunity,” she added.

Penn State made the journey to Los Angeles after consulting with the Big Ten, administrators from USC, UCLA, and medical professionals.

“They assured us it was safe and healthy to come and we trusted their guidance,” Nittany Lions coach Carolyn Kieger explained.

Gottlieb expressed, “We appreciate that they had enough confidence in the protocols to come.”

Following the game, the Lions were on their way to Long Beach, where they would remain until facing top-ranked UCLA. The Bruins rearranged the game to be played at Walter Pyramid, approximately 35 miles from their Westwood campus, which is adjacent to the Palisades fire.

“Adapt,” Kieger stated. “UCLA has to do the same, so it levels the playing field. For us, we simply move forward and create a new game plan. We’ll be prepared to compete.”

Kieger mentioned her players were initially filled with inquiries regarding traveling to Los Angeles, where smoke and ash from the wildfires have been impacting air quality.

“The primary concern was ensuring everyone’s safety. They’ve been excellent since our arrival,” she commented about her team.

The Trojans’ match against Northwestern was postponed after the Wildcats chose not to travel due to the fires. UCLA had offered to modify its game to accommodate the Wildcats, but they still declined.

The Trojans were on the East Coast when the fires ignited.

“I was astonished by how many messages I received after the Maryland game where people who were present said, ‘This was the most enjoyable two hours I’ve had in a long time just watching,’” Gottlieb recalled.

Her objective is to keep the Trojans aware that larger matters are occurring around them while granting them a chance to concentrate on the sport they cherish.

“I suppose I would express that this too shall pass,” Watkins noted. “The most significant thing for us and the community is to maintain faith and hope that improvements will come.”