After star player JuJu Watkins sustained a knee injury, USC's coach Lindsay Gottlieb emphasized the team's resilience and belief in one another. She gathered her players for a practice just hours after the injury, expressing that doubt was not an option. Forward Kiki Iriafen acknowledged the impossibility of replacing Watkins, while the team prepares for their upcoming Sweet 16 game against Kansas State. The added pressure reflects past experiences in tournament history where teams struggled to adapt to similar losses.
"We've had a lot of emotions, but none of them are doubt. The prevailing feeling is that we can still do something together. That's what JuJu wants us to do."
"None of us can replace JuJu. Nobody can replace JuJu."
"Anytime you try to make up for it, it usually backfires," said Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, reflecting on past experiences with injuries in tournament play.
"Players wrote Ralph’s name on their shoes to honor her. The tone, it turns out, overtook the rest of the tournament and shaped the team's journey."
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