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USC star Watkins' new NIL deal with United Airlines makes sense
USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC star JuJu Watkins' new NIL deal with United Airlines makes sense

By Andrew Kulha  |  Last updated Feb 27, 2025 6:48 PM ET

JuJu Watkins is one of the best college basketball players in the country. 

The USC women's basketball star is averaging 24.2 points per game, which is third best in the nation. 

Watkins, a sophomore, has been a star for the entirety of her college career as well. Not that the entirety of it has been all that long, but it's worth noting that only Caitlin Clark outscored her last season. She averaged 27.1 points per game as a freshman. Clark averaged 31.6 as she took over the hoops world.

That's the type of star we're talking bout in Watkins, and she recently inked a big-time NIL deal that not only reflects her star power, but it just makes sense.

Her official full name is Judea "JuJu" Skies Watkins. United Airlines thought they could capitalize on that middle name, and oh, did they ever.

That's a cool ad, and it's also cool to see an exciting college women's basketball player get some big-time press. 

Clark started the women's hoops revolution last season, but players like Watkins have what it takes to keep it going. 

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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