Imago
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Imago
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She’s just getting started! On November 29, No. 6 USC hit the court against Saint Louis in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational. After a disappointing loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last week, the Trojans have bounced back, securing 33 and 39-point victories. While the Trojans crushed it with a dominant second half to win 104-65, the night truly belonged to their star sophomore, JuJu Watkins.
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The USC phenom put on her best show of the season, dropping a jaw-dropping 34 points to lead her team to victory. And she didn’t stop there—she grabbed six rebounds and went 7-for-9 at the free-throw line. But here’s the real kicker: JuJu just became the fastest player in the last decade to hit 15 career 30-point games. She pulled it off in just 41 games, edging out Caitlin Clark, who hit that mark in 42 games.
The close proximity between Watkins and Clark shows why they are considered two of the best basketball talents in the world. The next best is Florida State Seminoles guard Ta’Niya Latson, who reached the same mark in 68 games. 27 games more than JuJu!
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MILESTONE: JuJu Watkins has just become the fastest player to reach 15 career 30-point games in the past 10 seasons:
1. JuJu Watkins — 15 in 41 games
2. Caitlin Clark — 15 in 42 games
3. Ta’Niya Latson — 15 in 68 games
4. Kelsey Mitchell — 15 in 69 games
5. Kelsey Plum — 15 in… pic.twitter.com/p5emtTgjKH— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) November 30, 2024
JuJu Watkins’ record-breaking night didn’t just solidify her as a rising star—it showed she’s ready to compete with, and maybe even surpass, some of the biggest names in women’s basketball, including Caitlin Clark. Considering her recent remarks on WNBA’s growth which irked a few Clark fans the wrong way, this might have just deepened the wound.
When the topic of the WNBA’s growth came up and the players behind its soaring popularity, most people expected Watkins to mention Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, or maybe even both. But the 19-year-old surprised everyone by shouting out her idol and two-time MVP, A’ja Wilson. “Yeah, I’m a big A’ja Wilson fan,” she said, giving credit to Wilson for her role in growing the league. It definitely caught people off guard.
Caitlin Clark’s influence cannot be denied, but JuJu Watkins is not getting caught up in comparisons
After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever, she sparked a 94% spike in WNBA attendance during May and brought in record-breaking ratings, with an average of 657,000 viewers per game. Even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had high praise, saying, “Caitlin Clark set the world on fire, not just this community. She’s brought so much attention to the entire league. People are seeing how deep this league is and how high the quality of basketball is… It’s wonderful to see.”
Still, Watkins isn’t getting caught up in comparisons. After landing a sponsorship deal with State Farm—just like Clark did in her Iowa days—Watkins emphasized staying true to herself. “I just do my best to be myself and play my way,” she said. “I just go out there, try to have fun, do what I do, and continue to work hard. That’s my mentality always.”
JuJu’s climb in women’s basketball is just beginning. With her insane scoring ability and calmness under pressure, she’s already drawing comparisons to the best. But JuJu’s focus is clear—she’s all about creating her own path. And with performances like this, it’s safe to say she’s well on her way to leaving her own mark on the game.
Written by
Edited by
Pragya Vashisth