USC women’s basketball Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb faced severe criticism online for her involvement in the drama after she defended Mississippi State player Chandler Prater, which led to a season-end injury Monday night for Juju Watkins.
Gottlieb made it clear in a speech in the media on Friday that she didn’t believe Prater was causing the first half of the second round Watkins’ injury.
Southern California guard Juju Watkins (12) landed on the floor between Mississippi State guard Eniya Russell and guard Chandler Prater in the second round of the NCAA college basketball game on Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
“It seems I have no intention of hurting her…I mean, it’s not the USC point of view at all,” she said. via ESPN. “It’s a physical game…No one should be bullied online in any field, but certainly not the young Chandler woman who is trying to make the game and unfortunately our players are injured.”
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Prater, graduate student in the first season Bulldog, After facing a lot of hateful information, it seems her comment section has been disabled on her recent Instagram post. Some comments reportedly called Prater a “dirty” player.
“Learn how to play the sport without fouling and hurting players,” one post wrote.
“Dirty hell,” another read. “You’re a guy who quit playing basketball – do you have to foul like this?”
Southern California guard Juju Watkins (12) reacted on the floor after an injury in the first half against Mississippi State’s second round NCAA College Basketball Championship in the second round in Los Angeles on Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Chandler Prater of Mississippi State faces online criticism after Juju Watkins is injured
Watkins was injured when he quickly broke into the court. Prater and another Mississippi State player were guarding her, bent her knees awkwardly as Watkins put his right foot down. She immediately suffered in pain as she grabbed her right knee on the ground and was eventually taken away.
Gottlieb added: “We really have enthusiastic fans and have a lot of love for Juju, and I know people feel sad and hurt about her being hurt, but no one in our camp feels like there is any kind of attack on her and will not support any kind of online bullying or something of this nature.”
“She is a young man Play basketball, And, I’m sure, it turns out to be any part of the negative situation. ”
Southern California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb talked about Juju Watkins at a 16th press conference in Spokane, Washington, on Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
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The Trojan continues without Watkins, who will undergo surgery and recovery after tearing the ACL. They face the No. 5 seed Kansas In Saturday’s Sweet 16.
“I think the general feeling is that we can still do something together, and that’s what we want us to do,” Gottlieb said of the team’s advancement in the women’s championship.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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