Rutgers HC breaks silence on Kiyomi McMiller's decision with cryptic take as Scarlet Knights suffer humiliation to JuJu Watkins' USC

The Rutgers women’s basketball team faced difficulties on Sunday night, hosting the USC Trojans without their freshman guard, Kiyomi McMiller. The Scarlet Knights endured a crushing 92-42 loss, which marked the worst defeat in the program’s history.

McMiller’s absence due to a "coach’s decision" added fuel to the fire of speculation among the fans surrounding the team’s internal dynamics. In a post-game press conference, coach Coquese Washington addressed the decision to sideline McMiller but remained vague about the specifics.

“Well, you know, the thing with Kiyomi is, you know, we're going to keep it internal,” she said.

Washington then went on to talk about her coaching philosophy, adding that her role extends far beyond the X's and O's of basketball. She spoke about her responsibility to guide players not just as athletes but as individuals, saying:

The decision-making that we do that goes into this program, it's about defining character and growing young people. As we deal with different circumstances and situations, for me, the first thing is how are we impacting these young people. How am I using my position and my role as head coach to grow teenagers into young women.

"What we're doing here, we're going to keep the specifics and everything internal, but I'll never turn down an opportunity and turn down to use this position to do anything other than have an impact on young women's lives."

A highly celebrated five-star recruit, Kiyomi McMiller has been a cornerstone of Rutgers’ offense this season, averaging 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Without McMiller on the court, Rutgers struggled to mount a significant offense against a formidable USC team led by rising star JuJu Watkins.

USC's JuJu Watkins comments on Kiyomi McMiller’s absence

The Scarlet Knights committed 22 turnovers against USC’s relentless defense. JuJu Watkins expressed disappointment at not being able to compete against McMiller in the post-game interview.

“[Kiyomi] is a good player,” Watkins said. “I’m always excited to play against good players, so yeah, I guess I was a little disappointed that she wasn’t on the floor, but I think the main goal is always to win, with or without players.”

Kiyomi McMiller earned back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Her highlight-reel plays, including a viral basket earlier in the season, have garnered national attention.

She also made history as the first high school athlete to sign an NIL deal with Jordan Brand, further cementing her status as a rising star in women’s basketball. The decision to bench McMiller against USC has raised questions about the relationship between the freshman and the coaching staff.