First it was Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
2025 will be all about Paige Bueckers.
And next off the conveyor belt of generational women’s basketball star will be Juju Watkins, who one former NFL coach thinks could compete in the NBA.
The 19-year-old USC sophomore – who became one of a number of investors in the offseason 3×3 ‘Unrivaled’ league – is one of the biggest names in college basketball.
She reached 1,000 career points in 38 games — two fewer than all-time NCAA scorer Clark — but is not eligible to enter the WNBA Draft until 2027.
The All-American teenager has led the Trojans to a 10-1 start this season, averaging 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Watkins is playing at an elite level on both sides of the ball, prompting a bold claim from Hall of Fame NBA coach George Karl.
“As good as Caitlin Clark is, I’m thinking Juju Watkins may even be better,” Karl posted on social media.
“She looks to have the size, athleticism and talent to even compete in the NBA at some level!”
Fans caught wind of the former Kings, Nuggets, Bucks and SuperSonics coach’s comments and shared their thoughts.
“Not gonna lie — Caitlin Clark is a beast, but Juju Watkins might be next level. Size, athleticism, and skill that makes you wonder if she could hang in the NBA. Bold claim? Sure. But so is Juju’s game,” commented one fan.
“She definitely is,” replied another.
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Others, however, cast doubt on Watkins’ ability to hang with the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, NBA Cup MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the crème de la crème of men’s basketball.
“OK, someone hacked your account. There is no other explanation for this laughably awful take,” somebody posted.
‘Compete in the NBA’, you are out of your mind. Yeah maybe bench spot in G League,” a second wrote.
Watkins is a guard from Los Angeles who stands 6ft 2in and attended Sierra Canyon High School.
She has already received praise from LeBron and signed a lucrative multiyear contract extension with Nike in October.
As a freshman, she averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks, while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 85.2 percent from the free throw line.
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She became the all-time leading scorer among freshmen in Division I women’s basketball history with a total of 920 points.
Watkins ultimately finished second to Caitlin Clark in scoring last season, before the Iowa Hawkeyes star went to the WNBA as the first overall pick, leveled up women’s basketball, and won Rookie of the Year.
Juju and the new face of the WNBA share a numbers of similarities, including their scoring prowess.
Earlier this month, Watkins reached 30 points in a game for the 16th time — a milestone only Clark had hit more often (23) during her sophomore year.
There are stark differences too, though. Watkins is the taller of the two, and a much better defender. Clark. on the other hand, is the much superior floor general, able to pick apart defenses with her pinpoint passes and logo 3s.
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The young hoopers share a mutual admiration for one another, but Watkins insists she’s her own person.
“I would say I just do my best to be myself and play my way,” Watkins said.
“I don’t really think too much about the comparisons or the pressure, but I would say I just go out there and try to have fun, do what I do and continue to work hard. I think that’s my mentality always.”
Last season, Watkins led the Trojans to their first Elite 8 appearance since 1994, ultimately falling to fellow All-American Paige Bueckers and the Connecticut Huskies.
Watkins will get a shot at revenge on Saturday when the two programs meet in an eagerly-anticipated rematch.