HC Lindsay Gottlieb drops 3-word reaction as JuJu Watkins’ small gesture makes USC fan jump in joy

USC star JuJu Watkins' popularity has been soaring every day since she arrived in college, and a recent gesture she directed toward a fan has captured the hearts of many. Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb was also impressed by the moment and dropped a three-word reaction on her Instagram story.

The USC women's basketball Instagram account shared a post after the team's game against Rutgers on Sunday, showing a clip of Watkins interacting with a young fan during the pregame warmup.

Watkins approached the sideline and low-fived the girl, who was waiting patiently to get her attention. The fan immediately jumped in excitement and joy.

Gottlieb reposted the clip on her Instagram story.

"This girl's joy," she wrote adding a loudly crying emoji.

Likewise, the first slide of USC’s Instagram post featured a heartwarming moment that captured a fan in a wheelchair signaling a peace sign with her hand after making an extensive journey to see JuJu Watkins.

The fan held a sign that read:

"WE DROVE 400 MILES TO SEE JUJUSC."

Watkins has been a sensation since she arrived at USC last season. She broke the freshman record for the most points scored in a season and was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. This season, she’s picked up right where she left off, averaging 25.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

JuJu Watkins grateful for fans beyond West Coast

JuJu Watkins, a 6-foot-2 native of Los Angeles, California, was surprised by the commitment of fans coming to watch her play from far away. In the USC vs. Rutgers postgame presser, Watkins expressed her gratitude for the support she has received.

"I was actually surprised that I had this many fans on the East Coast just because I'm from the West Coast, and we don't really visit here often. So it's always just a blessing to see. And yeah, always grateful for the crowd," she said.

Watkins did not let the fans down, as she led the No. 4 Trojans to a 50-point victory over the Scarlet Knights, with the game finishing 92-42. She scored 23 points and grabbed her career-high 14 rebounds to humiliate Coquese Washington's team at Jersey Mike's Arena.

JuJu Watkins and USC will look to extend their 10-game winning streak when they travel to College Park, Maryland, to face the No. 8 Terrapins on Wednesday.