2 weeks Ago
For women's college basketball fans wondering who would step into the void left by Caitlin Clark, it didn't take long for a candidate to emerge. JuJu Watkins burst through the open door with a jaw-dropping performance in No. 3 USC's nail-biting 68-66 win over No.
20 Ole Miss in the first game of the Aflac Oui-Play doubleheader to open the women’s college basketball season on Monday in Paris. Coming off a stellar freshman season that saw her guide USC to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1984, Watkins is already a star in her own right. But the comparisons to Clark in Monday's game were simply too hard to ignore for college hoops fans on social media.
Robert Hanashiro, Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Watkins played all 40 minutes against Ole Miss, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and five blocks. JuJu Watkins in her season debut: - 27 PTS - 10 REB - 4 AST - 5 BLK - 3 STL Watkins is ready for a monster sophomore year 🔥 pic.twitter.
com/niZMm9pQq1 The incredible stat line was balanced out by nine turnovers (USC had 26 as a team), leaving fans split on her performance like they were in Clark's college days at Iowa. "Juju Watkins really is the next Caitlin Clark," wrote a user on X. "5 turnovers and 6 made fg’s at half and people can’t get enough of it.
" juju 4 turnovers in the 1st quarter? pic.twitter.com/b6P50coFoS "juju got 9 turnovers, out there looking like caitlin clark," joked a post on X.
Juju is literally Caitlin’s daughter I’m not taking debates lol Another controversial moment brought up memories of Caitlin Clark when Watkins got a technical foul for her emotional reaction after a block. Women’s basketball is back and so are weak technical fouls JuJu Watkins is the first culprit. pic.
twitter.com/ZzDMjSCzkS Clark's emotional playing style led to national discussions about women athletes getting punished for showing their competitive emotions, especially after her infamous taunting battle with former LSU star Angel Reese in the 2023 NCAA Championship Game. She continued the pattern in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, picking up six technical fouls during her rookie season, which had her flirting with a suspension.
juju tech? pic.twitter.com/k9dBFU3wle "JUJU TECH ALREADY," posted another fan.
"caitlin’s daughter <3" The comparisons to Clark's technical fouls and turnovers may not have been the most flattering. Still, it spoke volumes about her gutsy performance in the season opener that fans mentioned Watkins alongside the NCAA all-time leading scorer. Related: JuJu Watkins Makes Her Opinion of LeBron James Extremely Clear Related: Paige Bueckers Turns Heads With Dominant UConn Debut.
