USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb defends Mississippi State player amid online harassment over JuJu Watkins' injury

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb came to the defense of Mississippi State player Chandler Prater after she faced harsh criticism online for her involvement in the play that resulted in JuJu Watkins’ season-ending injury on Monday night. 

Speaking to the media on Friday, Gottlieb made it clear that she did not believe that Prater’s play in the first half of the second-round game resulted in Watkins’ injury.

Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) falls to the floor with the ball between Mississippi State guard Eniya Russell, left, and guard Chandler Prater, right, during the first half of the second-round of the NCAA college basketball tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

"There was nothing to me that looked like it had any intent to hurt her. . . . I mean, that's not a USC view at all," she said, via ESPN. "It was a physical game. . . . No one deserves online bullying in any realm, but certainly not a young woman in Chandler, who was trying to make a play, and unfortunately our player got hurt."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Prater, a graduate student in her first season with the Bulldogs, appeared to disable her comment section on her most recent Instagram posts after facing an influx of hateful messages. According to reports, some of the comments called Prater a "dirty" player. 

"Learn how to play the sport without fouling and injuring players," one post read. 

"Dirty as hell," another read. "Quit playing basketball, you’re so a-- you have to foul like that?" 

Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) reacts on the floor after an injury