USC sophomore guard JuJu Watkins continues to dominate the women’s college basketball scene, earning spots as a semifinalist for both the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and the Wooden Award Top 15 ballot, recognizing the nation’s best player.
On March 11, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Watkins as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Athletic Club revealed the 2025 Women’s National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, with Watkins among the 15 candidates for the prestigious honor.
As USC, ranked No. 4, awaits its NCAA Tournament bracket reveal on March 16, Watkins has been a force against top-tier competition. She has excelled in USC’s 7 matchups against AP top-10 teams, averaging 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks while shooting 35.4% from three-point range—numbers surpassing her already impressive season averages of 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Her standout performances include a 30-point game in USC’s Big Ten Tournament-clinching victory over No. 2 UCLA and a record-breaking 38-point, 11-rebound, 8-block, 5-assist performance against the Bruins earlier this season.
Watkins’ accolades continue to pile up. She was recently named The Athletic’s National Player of the Year, Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, and a Sullivan Award semifinalist. She remains on watch lists for the Wade Trophy and Dawn Staley Award, further cementing her status as one of the game’s elite players.
In USC’s record books, Watkins ranks 10th all-time in scoring with 1,684 career points and is the fastest Trojan to reach 1,000 points. She has recorded 21 career 30-point games, just four shy of USC legend Cheryl Miller’s program record.
With USC riding a 28-3 overall record, Watkins’ impact has been undeniable, making her a serious contender for college basketball’s top individual honors.
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