LOS ANGELES, Calif. (News4usonline) – The stars in women’s college basketball have created a lot of buzz around the game, which is growing in popularity. The level of play is as high as ever, and the women’s NCAA Tournament has the name power to be as entertaining as the men’s.
Caitlin Clark has set the sporting world on fire and became a household name by staying in college through her senior season. She passed Pete Maravich as the all-time NCAA leader in points scored and, in doing so, has raised the popularity of women’s basketball immensely.
Big names like Angel Reese (junior), Paige Bueckers (junior), and Cameron Brink (senior) have also stayed in college for an extended period of time, which has helped raise the level of recognizability in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Freshman sensation JuJu Watkins has arrived on the scene and is here to carry the torch and help fill the void once Clark and the others have moved on to the WNBA.
“I am not afraid to talk about how good we think JuJu is. I think we are watching something really spectacular happen,” said USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “In terms of the impact she has had on this program, I don’t know that there is a player who has had that impact on a program in their freshman year ever.”
The best thing working for women’s college basketball right now is the rule preventing players from moving on to the WNBA immediately. A player is not eligible for the draft until they have completed at least their third year of school, meaning Watkins is here to stay for at least a couple more seasons.
Watkins can do everything on the floor. She can shoot, dribble, pass, drive to the basket, block shots, get steals, and her basketball instincts are off the charts. Watkins is averaging 27 points per game in her first college season, trailing only Caitlin Clark this year.
In her first taste of March Madness action, she scored 23 points, had four blocks, and had two steals. During USC’s 87-55 win over Texas A&M-CC, Watkins broke her mentor and arguably the greatest women’s college basketball player of all time, Cheryl Miller’s scoring record for points in a single season by a Trojan.
“This is the most exciting time in basketball, so I am just grateful to be a part of it. There is a lot on the line, and that gives us a lot of energy,” said Watkins postgame. “I think (Miller and I) are similar in some ways just as far as the competitiveness and wanting to win, and she always encourages me never to lose that.”
She is the player to watch throughout the tournament as her stardom continues to rise. A deep run will serve well for the game, as Watkins can show off her talents to basketball fans everywhere.
It was a packed house at the Galen Center for USC’s first tournament game, and Watkins’ impact has a lot to do with that.
“This crowd speaks to the growth of women’s basketball and the excitement around our team that our players have earned. It means a lot,” said Gottlieb.
In the era of one-and-done and the transfer portal, the men’s tournament has fewer recognizable names than the women’s side. People across the country fill out their brackets for the men’s tournament, which keeps them engaged in the action, but the stars the women’s tournament has to offer are equally as enticing.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.