The Galen Center used to be quiet. Honestly, it was a bit depressing for a program with the kind of history that includes names like Cheryl Miller and Lisa Leslie. For years, USC women's basketball was a sleeping giant that just wouldn't wake up. Then came JuJu.
JuJu Watkins didn't just choose a school; she ignited a movement. When the Watts native decided to stay home in Los Angeles, everyone knew she was good, but nobody quite predicted she would dismantle the record books within months of her first collegiate tip-off. She's a walking bucket. It’s that simple. But it's also much more complicated because she carries the weight of a legendary legacy on her shoulders every time she laces up her Nikes.
The Freshman Season That Changed Everything
Last year wasn't just a "good" debut for JuJu Watkins. It was historic. She broke the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record, surpassing legends like Tina Hutchinson. She finished the season with 920 points. Think about that for a second. A teenager stepped onto a court against seasoned seniors and basically told them they couldn't guard her. And they couldn't.
She's got this mid-range game that feels like a throwback to 90s basketball. It's smooth. It's violent. It’s efficient. While the rest of the world is obsessed with the three-point line, Watkins is comfortable pulling up from twelve feet and burying a jumper in your face.
She dropped 51 points against Stanford. Stanford! You don't do that to a Tara VanDerveer-coached team. Not unless you're special. That night in Palo Alto was when the conversation shifted from "she's a great freshman" to "she might be the best player in the country, period."
Why USC Women's Basketball Juju is Different from the Rest
If you look at the landscape of the sport right now, it’s booming. Caitlin Clark paved a massive road, but JuJu is driving a different kind of vehicle down it. She brings a specific West Coast flair and an unapologetic Los Angeles swagger that the program hasn't seen since the days of the "P-Cals."
People show up to see her.
Celebrities are courtside.
The energy has shifted.
But it’s not just the hype. It’s the defensive intensity. Most high-volume scorers take plays off on the other end to save energy. JuJu doesn't. She’s active in passing lanes and uses her length to stifle guards. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb has built a system that lets JuJu be JuJu, but also demands she leads.
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It’s a heavy lift. Sometimes she tries to do too much, leading to high turnover games or forced shots, but that’s the tax you pay for greatness in development. You take the 30% usage rate because the alternative is losing.
The Recruitment of the Century
Getting Watkins to sign that Letter of Intent was the biggest win for USC in decades. She was the No. 1 recruit for a reason. Every powerhouse wanted her. South Carolina, LSU, UConn—they all came knocking.
She stayed home.
That decision fundamentally altered the power balance in the Big Ten (where USC now resides). It proved that the Trojans could keep local elite talent. For years, the best girls in SoCal would head to Stanford or across town to UCLA. JuJu broke that cycle. Now, elite transfers and five-star recruits want to play alongside her because they know they’ll be on national television every week.
Navigating the Big Ten Transition
Moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten is a gauntlet. The travel is brutal. The officiating is different. The physicality in the Big Ten is notorious. You’re going from playing in desert heat to playing in a blizzard in Iowa or Indiana.
JuJu’s game is built for it, though. She’s strong. She’s got a frame that can absorb contact, which is necessary when you’re getting double and triple-teamed every possession.
The rivalry with UCLA has only intensified. Those games are no longer just local bragging rights; they are high-stakes battles for seeding in the NCAA tournament. When JuJu faces off against the Bruins, the atmosphere is electric. It’s the kind of basketball that makes you forget about the NBA or anything else going on.
The NIL Powerhouse
We have to talk about the money. JuJu is one of the most marketable athletes in the world, not just in college sports. With deals involving Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, she is a mogul before she can legally buy a drink.
Does it distract her? Doesn't seem like it.
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If anything, it’s given her a platform to elevate her teammates. You see her in commercials, but you see her in the gym at 6:00 AM more often. That’s the nuance people miss. The "brand" is built on the "basketball," not the other way around.
The Road to a National Championship
The goal at USC isn't just making the Tournament anymore. The bar has been raised. It’s Final Four or bust. Last season's Elite Eight run was a massive step, but it left a bitter taste. They were close. They could see the summit.
To get over the hump, the supporting cast has to continue to evolve. Kiki Iriafen joining the squad via the transfer portal was a massive move. It takes the pressure off JuJu. Now, defenses can't just sell out to stop one person. If you triple-team Watkins, Iriafen will make you pay in the paint.
This balance is what will define the next two years of USC basketball. It’s about whether they can find that chemistry between a generational individual talent and a cohesive championship unit.
Addressing the Fatigue Factor
One thing experts watch closely is JuJu’s minutes. She plays a lot. Like, a lot.
In some games, she barely touches the bench.
Maintaining that level of output over a 30-plus game season is grueling. There were moments late last year where the shots started hitting the front of the rim—a telltale sign of tired legs. Gottlieb has to manage that load if the Trojans want to be fresh in March. It’s a delicate dance between winning regular-season games and saving your superstar for the moments that define legacies.
What Most People Get Wrong About JuJu
There’s a misconception that she’s just a "pure scorer."
That’s lazy scouting.
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Watch her vision. She makes passes that most point guards wouldn't attempt. Her basketball IQ is off the charts. She understands gravity—how her presence on the floor pulls defenders out of position, creating lanes for others.
Also, she's surprisingly humble. In interviews, she’s quick to deflect praise to her teammates and coaches. There’s a quiet confidence there, not a loud arrogance. She knows she’s the best, but she doesn’t feel the need to scream it. She just shows you.
How to Follow the Journey
If you’re trying to keep up with USC women’s basketball and JuJu’s progression, you have to look beyond the box scores. You have to watch the tape.
- Watch the footwork: Notice how she creates space with her step-back. It’s elite.
- Check the defensive stats: Don't just look at points; look at her steals and blocks.
- Follow the Big Ten standings: The race for the top spot is a bloodbath this year.
- Attend a game: If you’re in LA, get to the Galen Center. The ticket prices are rising for a reason.
The era of JuJu Watkins is finite. We only get a few years of this before she heads to the WNBA to likely become the No. 1 overall pick.
The impact she’s having on the culture of USC is permanent. She’s turned a "football school" into a place where women’s hoops is the hottest ticket in town. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens through 920-point seasons and a refusal to lose.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts
To truly appreciate what's happening at USC right now, stop comparing JuJu to players of the past and start evaluating her against the current standard of excellence.
- Track her efficiency over volume: Watch if her shooting percentages climb as she gets more comfortable in the Big Ten's defensive schemes.
- Monitor the "Iriafen-Watkins" dynamic: See how many assists JuJu generates specifically for her frontcourt. This tells you if the team is evolving beyond a "hero-ball" mentality.
- Analyze the road performance: The Big Ten is won on the road. Watch how she handles hostile environments in places like Columbus or College Park.
- Support the broader movement: Women's basketball is at an inflection point. Engaging with the content, buying the jerseys, and watching the games ensures this growth isn't just a "JuJu bubble" but a lasting shift in the sports landscape.
The story of USC women's basketball isn't finished. In fact, with JuJu leading the way, it feels like the opening chapter of a very long, very successful book. Enjoy the show while it's here.
Next Steps for Deep Diving:
Review the upcoming USC schedule to identify key matchups against Top 25 opponents. Pay close attention to the mid-February stretch, as this is typically when freshman-to-sophomore fatigue sets in. Check the official NCAA statistics pages weekly to see how JuJu's points-per-game average fluctuates against high-pressure defensive units versus non-conference opponents.