CBS Announcer Chooses Worst Compliment Possible For JuJu Watkins

CBS Sports play-by-play broadcaster Lisa Byington made a horrendous mistake when she tried to praise USC guard Juju Watkins on Sunday.

Watkins’ Trojans and the UCLA Bruins were competing for the Big 10 title for women’s basketball (no that’s not a typo, though two years ago it would have been). UCLA ended up winning the game 72-67, Watkins was her usual sensational self, dropping 29 points in the effort.

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 30: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans dribbles during the first half against the Baylor Lady Bears in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 30, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

At one point in the second quarter, Watkins was shooting a pair of free throws when Byington decided to sing her praises. However, she used the worst comment possible to compliment her.

"JuJu Watkins has caught the women’s basketball world by storm," said Byington. "Certainly lit the world of Los Angeles on fire."

Oh, brother.

Any year but 2025, this would be okay. That’s a standard compliment you can give to any athlete. But not this year. This year, Los Angeles has literally been burning because of massive wildfires that have ravaged the city.

Needless to say, it’s way too soon to be using that kind of compliment for a Los Angeles-based athlete.

Social media quickly called out Byington for perhaps the worst announcer mistake so far this year.

Byington has a much more distinguished career, such as being the first female play-by-play announcer of March Madness, and the first female full-time announcer for the Milwaukee Bucks. While that’s an impressive record, this is definitely a moment she would want to re-do.