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AP announces 2025 women's college basketball Player of the Year

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 11:57 PM ET

We're nearing the end of an incredible season of NCAA women's basketball and an equally fun NCAA Tournament. But while there are still three games left before a champion is crowned, the Associated Press is ready to crown their Player of the Year.

On Thursday, the AP announced that USC superstar JuJu Watkins is their College Basketball Player of the Year. Watkins averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and a career-high 3.4 assists per game over 33 games for the Trojans this year. Her season was cut short mid-tournament by a serious knee injury.

"JuJu Watkins, the sensational sophomore who led Southern California to its best season in nearly 40 years, was honored Thursday as The Associated Press women’s college basketball Player of the Year," the outlet announced.

"Watkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for its first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes from the 31-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo got the other two. Both were first-team AP All-Americans."

Watkins' head coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, said that Watkins' season was extra special because of how many big stars the sport has now.

“I think what’s so significant about this award is that this was a year that didn’t have an absence of talent and stars, and JuJu found a way to elevate herself and her team,” USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.

“She makes a lot of things that aren’t easy look easy. It’s one thing to say she’s a generational talent, but another to actually do it and put yourself up with names like Stewie, Maya and Courtney Paris.”

️ AP PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS FOR JUJU WATKINS ️ pic.twitter.com/SjhFQ9ap94
— USC Women's Basketball (@USCWBB) April 3, 2025

Watkins still has two more years before she is eligible to join the WNBA, during which she will have the opportunity to get back to full health and perhaps lead the Trojans to their first national title since 1984.

Although, if she could enter the WNBA Draft today, she likely would — and she's likely be one of the top players selected.

At only 19 years of age, Watkins is already highly decorated. She won countless accolades as a freshman last year and won a FIBA World Cup with the Under-17 team back in 2022.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 07: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans reacts after a play during the second half of the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament against against the Indiana Hoosiers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 07, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The USC Trojans won the game 84-79. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Watkins might have even been a candidate for Player of the Year were it not for Caitlin Clark's record-breaking season.

As far as her future with the USC team goes, it all hinges on how quickly she'll be able to heal.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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