JuJu Watkins and No. 4 USC try to bring 'some fun' to weary and fire-ravaged Los Angeles

Southern California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, left, speaks to fans and thanks them for attending in light of recent wildfires following an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Southern California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, left, speaks to fans and thanks them for attending in light of recent wildfires following an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)


5 photos
Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

LOS ANGELES — USC basketball star JuJu Watkins knows people who have been affected by the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. She and her teammates tried to take people's minds off the devastation for a couple hours in one of the first sporting events to be held in Los Angeles since the fires began last week. Watkins is one of a handful of Los Angeles natives on the Trojans' roster. She says the fires "have been heavy on our hearts" and the team wanted to bring some joy during their game against Penn State. Watkins says the biggest thing for the team and the community is to have faith and hope that things will get better.

Photos

Most recent College stories

Related topics

Beth Harris

    SPORTS NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
    Newsletter Signup

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button