Despite the fact that Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers will be entering only her second season in the WNBA next spring, she has already formed a meaningful connection with USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins a bond built not through shared teams or locker rooms, but through parallel journeys marked by adversity, recovery, and the emotional toll of major injuries.
Both players have faced significant off-court challenges that reshaped their careers and altered the trajectory of their athletic paths. Watkins endured the heartbreak of a torn ACL during what had been shaping up to be one of the most dominant seasons in recent college basketball history. Even with the injury, she went on to win the prestigious Wooden Award, a testament to her impact and brilliance before her season was abruptly halted. Meanwhile, Bueckers also faced her own devastating injury earlier in her college career at UConn, forcing her into a long and grueling rehabilitation process that challenged her identity as one of the most gifted players in the country. When UConn ultimately returned to championship form and won the national title last spring, it served as a symbolic moment for Bueckers—evidence that perseverance, even through the bleakest stretches, can lead to triumph.
Bueckers recently discussed the parallels between her journey and Watkins’ during an appearance on the “What Drives Winning” podcast. When the topic of comparison between the two guards surfaced, Bueckers did not hesitate to acknowledge how deeply she relates to what Watkins endured. She explained that recovering from a significant injury is not just a physical battle but an emotional and mental challenge that tests a player’s confidence and sense of self.
“When I was going through my process, I watched my old highlights back and would remind myself who I was before the injury,” Bueckers said on the podcast, reflecting on how she coped during her rehabilitation. “Because there’s always that self-doubt of, Can you get back to that level? Can you be the same person, the same player, that you were before you got hurt?”
Her comment captures a universal truth for athletes who have been forced to confront their own physical limits. Injury doesn’t merely prevent a player from stepping onto the court; it strips away rhythm, confidence, and familiarity. Every move that once felt effortless—cutting, accelerating, rising into a jumper—suddenly becomes something to relearn. For elite talents like Bueckers and Watkins, whose games are fueled by dynamic movement and instinctive play, the setback becomes even more mentally taxing.
Bueckers’ admiration for Watkins’ determination
Beyond relating to Watkins on an emotional level, Bueckers also described how much pride she felt in watching the young USC star fight through her recovery. From afar, she tracked Watkins’ progress, seeing in the freshman phenom the same grit and inner fire she herself needed to endure her comeback.
“To have something that fresh that you can look back on, it inspires you and motivates you and it’s just that extra fuel to conquer the journey that lies ahead,” Bueckers said. Seeing Watkins battle through the early stages of her rehabilitation reminded her that the athlete’s path is rarely linear and that moments of strength often emerge from the darkest setbacks.
What makes the connection between Bueckers and Watkins particularly compelling is that they have competed against each other in the past, yet their relationship extends far deeper than standard on-court rivalry. Bueckers explained that during Watkins’ toughest moments, she made an intentional effort to reach out—to act as a grounding presence and a source of reassurance. For Bueckers, this wasn’t performed out of obligation or formality; rather, it came from genuine care and sincere empathy born from lived experience.
“You don’t get to be as good as JuJu Watkins if you don’t have a great motor, a great work ethic,” Bueckers said. “She’s going to attack this process just as she’s attacked basketball.”
Those words reflect a deep respect for Watkins not just as a standout talent, but as a competitor with unusual drive. Watkins’ scoring ability and relentless style have already cemented her as one of the brightest young stars in women’s college basketball. Bueckers’ praise indicates that the recovery process—demanding, exhausting, and mentally draining—will be yet another arena where Watkins’ extraordinary focus will shine through.
“She’ll come back better than ever”
In the conversation, Bueckers emphasized a belief that many who have endured major injuries eventually discover: the process can, in the long run, make a player even stronger, steadier, and more mentally tough than before.
“Just as she’s great at basketball, she’s going to be great at this recovery process,” Bueckers said. “I’m disappointed for her, but I know she will be back better than ever. This will just be a little setback in the great story she will have.”
These comments reflect Bueckers’ understanding that resilience often becomes a defining trait of injured athletes. The road back is rarely straightforward. There are setbacks, days when progress stalls, moments when doubt creeps in again. But what separates the good from the great is often how they respond to frustration. If Watkins approaches rehab with the same intensity and passion that characterize her on-court performance, Bueckers believes the USC star will eventually rewrite her story into one defined not by injury, but by courage and recovery.
A bond built on empathy and shared battles
Even though they play for different teams and are at different stages in their careers—Bueckers entering the pros, Watkins still early in her college journey—their experiences have created a meaningful emotional tie. Injury can feel isolating, but knowing someone else who has walked the same difficult road provides comfort that no coach, trainer, or fan can replicate.
Through Bueckers’ recollections, it is easy to see that their bond is shaped by more than mutual admiration. It is built on shared vulnerability. Both know what it means to be young, immensely talented, and suddenly forced to confront the fear of losing the game they love. Both understand how painful it is to watch from the sidelines while teammates continue toward championships and milestones. And both know how critical it is to have someone anyone who understands the emotional toll.
Even more, Bueckers’ comments reveal something important about her character: her investment in the sport extends far beyond personal accolades or professional success. She genuinely cares about the well-being and future of her peers, even those on opposing teams. Her empathy demonstrates the strong sense of community within women’s basketball, a sport where players consistently uplift one another through hardships.
International leagues, college programs, and the WNBA all share one interconnected ecosystem, and within it, the players frequently serve as mentors, inspirations, or emotional anchors for one another—roles that are invaluable during moments of crisis.
The connection between Bueckers and Watkins appears to be one of those special relationships that will persist for years, even as their careers continue to evolve. It is built not on convenience or proximity but on genuine understanding and respect.
A friendship that transcends basketball
Looking forward, their relationship is likely to extend far beyond their respective college and professional careers. Bonds formed through shared adversity are often the strongest and most lasting. Even as Bueckers continues her path in the WNBA and Watkins returns to USC with hopes of reclaiming her dominance, the foundation they’ve built through mutual support will remain intact.
What stands out most in Bueckers’ words is an appreciation not just for basketball, but for humanity. She recognizes that the sport is filled with extraordinary individuals who, despite competing fiercely against one another, depend on and learn from each other. Her encouragement for Watkins reflects the culture of women’s basketball a sport grounded in support, resilience, and mutual respect.
In the end, the story of Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins is not only about injury, recovery, or comparisons between two elite guards. It is about the deep emotional bonds that can form when athletes share parts of themselves that the public rarely sees: uncertainty, fear, and the fight to overcome it all.
Their friendship will likely continue to grow, strengthened by shared experiences, mutual admiration, and the knowledge that each has endured and survived the kind of challenges that shape not just an athlete, but a person.
