Juju Watkins is Inevitable

USATSI

Every generation has great athletes who leave us in awe of their sport's fantastic feats. Some, the truly special ones, separate themselves even more to become iconic. Generational. Transcendent. Some are identified early as prodigies, such as Tiger Woods or LeBron James. Others later on due to their psychotic pursuit of greatness, such as Michael Jordan and Tom Brady.

Women’s basketball has significantly risen over the last few years, whether it’s Caitlin Clark bombing away from three or Paige Bueckers orchestrating as an efficient maestro. All incredible and unique in their way. However, there’s this phenom out in Southern California, Juju Watkins, who not only may be the best of them all but also holds the potential to shape the future of the sport, leaving the WNBA salivating about how good she is and how good she may become.

Juju Watkins is inevitable.

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"You could be looking at a multiple MVP winner. She's going to carry a franchise. Besides Caitlin, she's definitely the next most exciting prospect. ... That's the one you're waiting for." - WNBA Talent Evaluator on Juju Watkins.

Watkins has always been the best, ranked as the No.1 player in the Class of 2023 out of Sierra Canyon. She would be recognized as the National Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year while being named a McDonald’s All-American. She chose to stay home in California, committing to USC. Her freshman season saw the Trojans make the Elite Eight, where they lost to Bueckers and the UConn Huskies 80-73.

Despite not ending with the ultimate result she wanted, Watkins has been everything the Trojans could have envisioned:

-  Named Unanimous first-team All-American

-  National Freshman Player of the Year in 2023-24

- 920 points scored as a freshman, most in NCAA DI women’s basketball history.

 -Broke Cheryl Miller’s record for most 30-point games (14) in a single season

-  Fastest Power Five player to score 1,000 career points, breaking Caitlin Clark’s record.

- One of only five players in Pac-12 history to record at least 750 points, 150 rebounds, and 50 steals in a season

- Scored 32 points in USC debut, most in program history in one's first game as a true freshman.

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The accomplishments are endless. But for Watkins, it’s about winning. After losing in the Elite Eight last year, the Trojans moved from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. They haven’t disappointed.

Watkin's stellar 30-point performance and three blocks led the No.4 Trojans over No.2 UCLA Bruins 80-67 to sweep the season series in their first year in a new conference. It’s their first regular-season conference title since 1994. Just a few weeks earlier, against the Bruins, she recorded a performance that could only be described as sensational.

 She scored 38 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out five assists, and blocked eight shots. This was the first time a player at the NBA, WNBA, or Divison I level recorded such numbers in a single game. It was a masterpiece.

"I didn't teach JuJu any of that," USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said with a smile. "Just try to put her in situations to be her best self, and she does most of that work. What I was so impressed with tonight, obviously, was just the mentality she came out with."

Her mastery of all levels of the floor and her defensive ace status distinguish her from her peers. She leads the Big Ten in total points (684) and points per game (24.4), is fifth in steals (2.1), and is fourth in blocks (2.0). She rejects shots with vicious intent, often altering the trajectory of a shot. She creates shots so smoothly, as if she’s Mozart, and finishes with such English at the rim like Diana Taurasi.

Watkins is the favorite to win Player of the Year honors after two eye-opening performances against the Bruins. Outperforming Wooden Finalist and UCLA star Lauren Betts in both contests. Despite all the bright lights on her, Watkins remains composed as someone wise beyond her years. It’s what differentiates her.

“The amount of attention she gets, the scrutiny, the positives — it’s a lot,” Gottlieb said of USC’s star. “But the ability to focus and say, ‘What do I need to do for me to be at my best and do what the team needs to do to win?’ That’s the mental aspect.”

Is Juju Watkins the Next Transcendent WNBA Star?

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• Yes, she's the truth
• No

After a bitter taste of defeat last season, Watkins is determined to carry her team to a national title. They rank No.2 in the AP Poll for the first time since 1986. She’s a transformational, paradigm-shifting talent on and off the court who can relate to the many girls around the country. The Trojans haven’t won a national championship since 1984.

Watkins hopes to change that.