USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

'She's unreal': Expect USC star JuJu Watkins to add to her trophy case

By Jalyn Smoot | Last updated Mar 21, 2025 2:59 PM ET

Earning honors is nothing new for USC star JuJu Watkins.

Only 19, the Big Ten Player of the Year is a two-time unanimous All-American (2024, 2025), a first-team All-Big Ten selection, USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2024), All-Pac 12 Team selection (2024) and Gatorade National Player of the Year (2023).

Amid an impressive sophomore season, the 6-foot-2 guard should be a slam-dunk for more hardware: Naismith Women's College Player of the Year. The award will be announced April 2.

Among Watkins' competition for the award will be Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo (24.2 PPG), UConn's UConn's Paige Bueckers (19 PPG) and UCLA's Lauren Betts (19.6 PPG, 9.7 PPG). Watkins, along with the aforementioned players, will put on a show in the NCAA Tournament.

But Watkins, who is averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.9 blocks, should be the clear favorite. Fueled her stellar play, USC has a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans (28-2) will play No. 16 North Carolina Greensboro in the first round Saturday.

No other women's player has Watkins' flair and skill.

"JuJu Watkins is one of one," Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said, per The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant . "She’s incredible."

"She set her own bar so high last year and then she managed to surpass it," USC basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said, per the Associated Press. "She has the ability to lock in and get to a zone, raise her own level and galvanize those around her. Above all else, she's a winner."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by USC Women's Basketball (WBB) (@uscwbb)

In the USC record books, Watkins ranks No. 10 all time in scoring with 1,684 points — she became the fastest Trojan to score 1,000 career points in program history earlier this season. Additionally, Watkins boasts the second-most 30-point games by a Trojan.

"She's the greatest player in the country and its because of the things y'all don't see," Gottlieb said of Watkins. "The poise, the leadership... she's unreal."

Each year, the Naismith Award is given to the nation's best women's college basketball player. The recipient of the trophy is determined by a board that includes NCAA basketball head coaches, administrators and media members.

This season, few players have a better case for the award honors than Watkins. Should the Trojans win the national title — they have the fifth-best odds, per Draft Kings — Watkins should be a no-brainer for the Naismith Award.

Jalyn Smoot

Jalyn Smoot is a University of North Texas graduate passionate about writing, sports, and film. Throughout his near decade-long career as a freelance reporter, he has been featured on Bleacher Report, Major League Baseball, Apple News, Fox Sports, and NewsBreak.

More must-reads: