Wooden Award Flashback: JuJu Watkins becomes the perfect bridge between generations at USC

Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award. At such a young age, JuJu Watkins hasn’t just been great; she’s shifted attention, energy, and momentum in women’s basketball. Watkins, who missed this past season after suffering a season-ending injury during the 2025 NCAA Women's Tournament, has helped usher in the latest era in college basketball.

From high school at Sierra Canyon to starring at the University of Southern California, Watkins arrived with legitimate hype and proved she was ready to exceed expectations after making her debut footsteps from Las Vegas Boulevard at T-Mobile Arena. Watkins, the 2025 recipient of the Wooden Award, didn’t need development time to become a headliner. She registered historic scoring performances as a freshman, thrusting herself into the immediate national spotlight while selling out arenas and drawing national TV attention.

While USC boasts a proud history, it hasn’t been a consistent national title threat in decades. Then Watkins arrived, and she helped push the Lady Trojans back into the elite conversation. She also re-energized West Coast women’s basketball while making USC relevant nationally again.

It was rare for a freshman to have that kind of immediate program impact. Watkins represents the modern wing as a three-level scorer with deep range, a threat with off-the-dribble creation, defensive versatility and big-game mentality. Watkins combines physical strength with guard skills, a true prototype for the next generation.