USC’s standout JuJu Watkins has reportedly secured “one of the most lucrative shoe endorsement agreements in women’s basketball.”
Shams Charania from ESPN has disclosed that the Trojans guard has completed a multiyear contract extension with Nike. Watkins first aligned with the brand back in October 2022 during her senior year of high school.
JuJu Watkins Dazzled in Her Freshman Year
As the top prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, Watkins proved her worth during her freshman campaign at SoCal. She averaged an impressive 27.1 points per game, placing her second in the nation, just behind former Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark. Her scoring prowess led her to accumulate a total of 920 points last season, marking a record for the highest points scored by a freshman in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history. Her contributions propelled the Trojans to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1984.
In recognition of her stellar freshman performance, she was honored as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and received the “Best Breakthrough Athlete” award at the 2024 ESPYs.
As the new season approaches, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised JuJu Watkins for her strong work ethic and the positive impact she has on the program.
““She’s unreal to be around every single day,” Gottlieb remarked. “When your star player puts in that kind of effort and cares deeply for the program and her teammates, it creates something special,” she continued. “I think Big Ten fan bases and opponents will be thrilled because she brings an intensity that elevates the game.”
With the recent contract extension and her accolade as the Big Ten and Associated Press preseason Player of the Year, it is clear that the expectations for the budding sophomore are considerable.
Image Source: JuJu Watkins @ Instagram
