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USC Star JuJu Watkins Breaks Caitlin Clark's College Basketball Record

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Nov 15, 2024 4:10 PM ET

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins instantly became one of the best players in all of women's college basketball during her freshman year in 2023-24. Now, she has broken a record previously held by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

Watkins averaged 27.1 points per game last season, second in the nation behind Clark, who averaged 31.6 points in her final season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, showcasing her scoring ability instantly.

On Friday, Watkins, now a sophomore, and USC played in their fourth game of the new college basketball season as they hosted the Santa Clara Broncos at Galen Center.

Coming into the game, Watkins was only 16 points away from becoming the fastest Power Five (ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12) player in women's college basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. In the third quarter, the Trojans guard hit a two-point jump shot to reach this milestone in only her 38th career game, setting the new record.

JuJu Watkins has hit 1,000 Career points ✌

She has broken the record for fastest Power 5 WCBB player to reach 1K (38 games played) surpassing Caitlin Clark (40 games played) #FightOn ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8J6eYpU4p9
— Watkins Report (@JWatkinsReport) November 15, 2024

Clark initially set the record during her sophomore season on Jan. 2, 2022, when the Hawkeyes faced the Evansville Purple Aces, her 40th career college game. The 93-56 Iowa win also saw Clark score a previous career-high of 44 points.

The next fastest Power Five players to hit the 1,000-point mark were former Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kelsey Mitchell (41 games), who also plays with Clark on the Fever in the WNBA, and former Texas A&M Aggies guard Chennedy Carter (44 games), who has found a role with the Chicago Sky.

Watkins, the 2023-24 unanimous All-American, is off to another solid start in her sophomore season. Prior to the Santa Clara game, the 6-foot-2 guard was averaging 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Watkins has helped the No. 3 Trojans start their season 3-0, including a win over the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels on opening day.

However, it will be tough for Watkins to reach the mark Clark set in her senior season, where she broke former LSU Tigers star Pete Maravich's record for most career points in college basketball history, regardless of gender, with 3,951. But Watkins is certainly on track to do so if she plays all four seasons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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