Choose your favorite cliché about a setback leading to a better-than-ever comeback.
That sentiment has driven the mindset of many women’s college basketball players who have been out action, forced from the hardwood for a season, or longer, due to an injury.
Among the many who are itching to get back on the court and not only prove that they’ve still got it, but, are, in fact, better than ever, these are four who I’m looking most forward to watching, as they’ll all be in position to take their teams
to greater, of even the greatest, heights.
In the comments, let us know who’s comeback season has you most excited.
JuJu Watkins (USC)
It hard not be unfair to JuJu Watkins.
She hasn’t played in an official basketball game since March 2025, when she suffered an ACL tear in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Should she really be expected to immediately resume her dominant ways when she makes her re-debut for USC?
At the same time, it’s seems pretty dumb to doubt JuJu or cap her ceiling.
Through her first two seasons of college basketball, she was one of the most undeniable players the sport had ever seen, re-writing record books as she restored USC to relevance. Now, she returns to the most-talented Trojan team of her tenure, supported by two more stars in sophomore Jazzy Davidson and freshman Saniyah Hall for the No. 3-ranked Women of Troy.
Seeing what JuJu can do with this team might be THE single biggest reason to be excited about the 2026-27 season.
And until Nov. 15, when the 2027 WNBA Draft Lottery will reveal which team will have the No. 1 pick in next spring’s draft, fans of the Portland Fire, Toronto Tempo, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics and, yes, her hometown Los Angeles Sparks can watch Watkins and envision what she will look like wearing their jersey.
Watkins begins her (likely final) comeback collegiate campaign on Monday, Nov. 2, when she and USC take on UNLV in Las Vegas (4 p.m. ET, CBSSN).
Ashlyn Watkins (South Carolina)
Across the country and at the other (or the real?) SC, another Watkins is returning from a longterm injury absence: Ashlyn Watkins.
The 6-foot-3 forward, who tore her ACL in January 2025, also oozes with the kind of talent that suggests she could become a star in the WNBA.
At South Carolina, Watkins has never had the runway to really explore the extent of her abilities. She’s started just nine games across her 84-game college career, with the almost 21 minutes, 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds she averaged as a sophomore representing her career highs. Yet, despite rather limited playing time, she still led the SEC in blocks that season, with her 91 swats helping South Carolina compile the best defensive rating in the nation during her time on the court.
This season, Watkins projects to again serve as a reserve for the Gamecocks. However, as long as her injury did not significantly sap her elite athleticism, Watkins should still find herself on the court during crucial moments, as head coach Dawn Staley will value her defensive impact and work on the glass.
Will Watkins have the opportunity to do more offensively? And if so, what could she show?
It seems more likely that Watkins will have to earn her offense through her energy, effort and athleticism, as she will not be featured on a South Carolina team that is stocked with players who are more proven offensive players. Plus, on a team where the priority is always winning it all, playing, rather than expanding, one’s role is the expectation. To win a championship, it’s not about doing everything you can do, but doing everything you need to do.
And before her injury absence, that’s something Watkins did to perfection. Yet, could we at least see some flashes from Watkins that provide a glimpse of the more well-rounded player she could develop into in the WNBA?
Watkins and the rest of the Gamecocks are in Paris for their season opener, meeting No. 20 Maryland in the Oui-Play event (12 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Kaylene Smikle and Aaliyah Moore (Tennessee)
Tennessee has rebuilt through the transfer portal, turning a failed team full of top recruits into one featuring players with skills and strengths that better fit the philosophical preferences of head coach Kim Caldwell.
Two of the players who will be looking to revive Rocky Top also are on the comeback trail in Kaylene Smikle and Aaliyah Moore.
Last season, Smikle was set to resume her star scoring role for Maryland until a knee injury and subsequent surgery limited her season to nine games. She’ll now have the opportunity to emerge as the primary scorer for the Lady Vols.
Caldwell’s offensive system—a high-tempo attack and well-spaced floor—should fit Smikle’s stylings, as she is a player who likes to subsist on tough 2-point buckets. She’ll have plenty of room to get those off, although it’s likely that Caldwell will encourage her to also fire off a career-high number of 3-point attempts. With a percentage that has hovered in the mid-30s on moderate volume, expect a more aggressive 3-point shooting Smikle.
While Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes is almost certain to lead the SEC in scoring, could Smikle threaten for second, even in a Tennessee offense that favors egalitarianism? If she does, the 6-foot-0 guard who can get buckets on buckets should be on WNBA radars.
Moore, meanwhile, is the perfect complement to a player like Smikle, as she’s willing to do all the little, thankless things that contribute to winning. Her approach to game will also be extra valuable for a Tennessee program in need of a cultural reset after last season’s chaos.
Moore was not with an NCAA program last season, opting to sit out after her senior season at Texas ended after 20 games due to a knee injury.
Across her four seasons at Texas, Moore mostly came off the bench, but frequently found herself on the court in the biggest moments, as her willingness to attack the glass, fight for loose balls, punch in a crucial putback or make other winning plays earned the trust of crusty Texas head coach Vic Schaefer.
For Tennessee, she’ll be unleashing all that good energy in the short stints that Caldwell utilizes, which could result in Moore providing even more positive impact.
If Smikle, Moore and all the other new pieces that Caldwell convinced to come to Rocky Top buy into her vision for the Lady Vols, Tennessee, beginning the season unranked, could soon slip into the top 25 and make some noise in the SEC.
That project begins against Duquesne on Monday, Nov. 2 (6:30 p.m. ET, SECN+). The Lady Vols’ first true test comes Sunday, Nov. 22 against No. 11 UCLA (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
