USA Basketball will hold another training camp this week in Phoenix, Arizona, as the teams heading to the Final Four prepare to face one another nearby. The camp will feature a roster that's a little different than the one we saw last year — but that also includes a few familiar names.
The training camp will be attended by A'ja Wilson, Monique Billings, Mikayla Blakes, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Rae Burrell, Veronica Burton, Napheesa Collier, Stefanie Dolson, Sabrina Ionescu, Rickea Jackson, Azurá Stevens, Brittney Sykes, Kayla Thornton and JuJu Watkins. If that last name caught your eye, you aren't alone — the camp could mark Watkins' return to the court after suffering an ACL tear last year.
The coaching staff will be led by Kara Lawson. She will be assisted by Niele Ivey, Natalie Nakase, Stephanie White, Nate Tibbets, and Shea Ralph.
JuJu Watkins tore her ACL in 2025
Watkins suffered her ACL tear during the March Madness tournament last year and announced last September that she would miss the entire USC season as a result. She attended USA Basketball's training camp in December, but did not play on the court. While Watkins has posted videos showing her shooting baskets, participating in the camp would officially indicate that she's ready to be back out there.
"It's enough just being [here] and feeling the energy - that's mostly what I've picked up on," Watkins said in December. "Hearing everyone's voices, the communications, the leadership, it's something that you can see automatically. It brings up your standards, so I'll definitely be taking some of these lessons back to USC to continue to grow as a leader and a player."
Watkins has largely flown under the radar this season, though it's likely that participating in Friday's training camp will change that. Fans have clamored for updates and footage of her shooting around, especially after USC's team finished their season this year.
Watkins is expected to be a high draft pick in 2027, and could go as high as the No. 1 overall pick. A lot will depend on her performance after she's back on the floor, and she'll also face stiff compeitition from Hannah Hidalgo. Of course, Watkins also has the option to take a fifth year of college, which would have her entering the WNBA in 2028 — which just so happenns to be the same year as the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.