JuJu Watkins named Big Ten women's basketball Player of the Year

On Tuesday, USC guard JuJu Watkins was named the Big Ten women’s basketball Player of the Year. Watkins is averaging 24.4 points per game this season, the second-most in the country.

Watkins is more than a scorer. She’s also averaging 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest. She’s shooting 42.9% from the field and 33.9% from beyond the arc this season.

Watkins jaw-dropping stats aren’t empty. USC is 26-2 this season and the No. 2 team in the AP Top 25. The Trojans boast nine ranked wins this season, including two triumphs over top-five foe UCLA.

USC’s second win over UCLA this season was in its regular-season finale. In the convincing 80-67 victory, JuJu Watkins erupted for a game-high 30 points while shooting 4-9 from 3-point range. With the win, USC secured its first regular-season conference title in program history.

Last month, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb raved about her star sophomore.

“It’s unbelievable,” Gottlieb said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “I see it every day, the grace with which she handles really positive attention and the way she galvanized the community. When I got the job here, there were 700 people in the stands. Now, there’s thousands.

“That’s, I think, because of her gravity and she understands that. And then, also, just the scrutiny that she takes. She’s probably the most game-planned-for college athlete in our sport ever. She sees doubles and triples. People want to ask about this shot or that shot or this decision. She literally just continues to grow before our eyes.

“Her talent is abundant and she keeps getting better, but more so just the way she handles what’s coming at her and continues to raise her own level is really something that I feel very fortunate to have a front-row seat and try and help her navigate through that.”

Watkins is one of the biggest stars in the sport. She has a $739K On3 NIL valuation and boasts deals with popular brands such as Nike, Gatorade and State Farm.

Fans can expect those financial numbers to grow as Watkins continues to add to her stockpile of accolades. Last season, Watkins was a First-Team All-American, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Tournament team.

Watkins will look to put on a show again in her conference tournament this season. As the No. 1 overall seed in the Big Ten Tournament, USC will have a double bye and play its first game on Friday.