Caitlin Clark Still Untouched by Juju Watkins but College Basketball Community Gives Strong NPOY Verdict After USC Star’s UCLA Feat

Will JuJu Watkins command the same popularity and respect in college basketball that Caitlin Clark once did? The fact that her arrival in the WNBA scenario brought major positive developments for the league is a testament to what Clark has been for women’s basketball. Yet, Watkins still has a long road to travel that way.

Consider this: JuJu scored 30 points in 4-straight games vs UCLA. With this, she tied for the 3rd-longest streak vs. a single opponent in DI since 1999-00. It’s an impressive feat, yes, but Clark still has a longer streak (10-straight vs. Nebraska, 5-straight vs. Minnesota). However, following her performances against the UCLA, JuJu Watkins has garnered some major support in her claim for National Player of the Year (NPOY).

“Juju Watkins has had a terrific season overall. The two stellar performances against UCLA will go a long way towards winning her national player of the year,”  basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo posted on X. Then there is USA Today’s Meghan L. Hall who earlier had Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo as her “NPOY front-runner”, but now JuJu Watkins has taken over.

Amid all of this, Emmy-nominated Sports Director Matt Dowell stated that there are a handful of players in the NPOY conversation. But he feels “JuJu Watkins has separated herself from everyone else with what’s she’s done the past month.”

Right now, Watkins sits at No. 4 on On3’s National Player of the Year front-runner list. The sophomore is averaging 24.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting an efficient 44 percent from the field. Statistically, her numbers may have dipped slightly from her electric freshman year. But she’s playing smarter and, more importantly, leading her team to wins. The Trojans are 20-2 and ranked No. 7 in the country—no small feat.

But if there was ever a defining moment for Watkins’ NPOY campaign, it happened at the Galen Center when USC took on an undefeated UCLA squad in a top-10 showdown. Watkins didn’t just show up—she dominated. She dropped 38 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and swatted away eight shots in USC’s 71-60 victory. A statement from her that proved she’s more than just a rising star—she’s a legitimate NPOY contender.

As for leveling up to Caitlin Clark, Watkins is already commanding attention from the fans.

JuJu Watkins’ Parting Gesture to UCLA Fans

Watkins is making it clear—she’s not just here to play; she’s here to dominate. And if anyone needed proof, look no further than USC’s latest showdown against UCLA. For the second time this season, the Trojans (26-2) took down their crosstown rivals, handing the Bruins (27-2) a tough 80-67 loss.

Of course, Watkins was at the center of it all. Dropping 30 points, dishing out 5 assists, and grabbing 3 rebounds, she made sure USC walked away with not just a win but the regular-season Big Ten championship. With March Madness around the corner, the Trojans are looking every bit like a top seed.

But Watkins didn’t just let her game do the talking. As she checked out, she made sure UCLA fans felt the sting of the loss, flashing “fours” down—a direct jab at the Bruins’ signature hand gesture.

It was a move straight out of a superstar’s playbook, showing that Watkins is already commanding the spotlight like Caitlin Clark. But there’s no denying that she has a long path to cover before reaching even close to what the Indiana Fever star has made of herself in the WNBA scenario.