March has arrived, bringing with it the electrifying chaos of the NCAA Tournament. Sixty-four teams prepare to battle for a spot in the Final Four and the national championship at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Historically, the top seeds have dominated, with 33 national champions emerging from this elite group – most recently South Carolina in the 2024-25 season. This year’s top seeds include UCLA (30-2), South Carolina (30-3), Texas (31-3) and USC (28-3). For USC, a program that hasn’t won a national title since 1984 when Cheryl Miller won back-to-back titles, the journey begins with a seemingly manageable first-round game against UNC Greensboro this Saturday. But come March, nothing is guaranteed. As the Trojans chase glory, their standout star, JuJu Watkins, is poised to shine, with expectations soaring for her to lead the charge and perhaps claim the National Player of the Year crown.
Watkins And The Players She Models Her Game After
JuJu Watkins isn’t just a name to watch – she’s a force redefining women’s college basketball. In a recent interview, she talked about the four players who have shaped her on-court style. Her choices make perfect sense: from LeBron James, she takes versatility and court vision, seamlessly transitioning between scorer and facilitator. Paul George’s influence is evident in her elite footwork and shot-making ability. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s poise and ability to score on all three levels mirrors Watkins’ offensive arsenal. And, of course, Candace Parker-a two-time WNBA champion-embodies the all-around dominance Watkins strives to bring to the game.
What I see that all four of these players have in common is that they are all two-way players, meaning they know how to get buckets and they know how to stop them because they are excellent defenders. It seems to me that Watkins wants to be an all-around player and that to me proves the work she puts in every day to get better. For example, Caitlin Clark is an excellent offensive player, Angel Reese is an excellent defensive player, but both have some issues on the other side of the ball and as we’ve seen Watkins’ game develop, we could agree that she’s going to be a dominant player in the WNBA soon.
Can Watkins Lead USC to a Championship Run?
As the tournament heats up, Watkins’ path could lead to a blockbuster showdown with UConn’s Paige Bueckers. The two met in last year’s Elite Eight, where UConn prevailed 80-73 before falling to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the Final Four. They met again this season in Hartford, Connecticut, with USC squeaking out a 72-70 victory behind Watkins’ team-high 25 points. A potential Elite Eight rematch is already being billed as a championship-level matchup.
Watkins, who is averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 combined steals and blocks per game, has already surpassed Caitlin Clark’s totals from her first two NCAA seasons. She’s on pace to break Clark’s all-time NCAA scoring record, and a strong tournament could secure her Player of the Year bid. This time, she’ll have Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen – a projected WNBA first-round pick and USC’s defensive rock – at her side, giving the Trojans an edge they lacked last year.
USC’s road to Tampa is no cakewalk. After UNC Greensboro, they could face No. 8 California or No. 9 Mississippi State in the second round. The Sweet 16 could bring No. 5 Kansas State or No. 4 Kentucky, with UConn looming as the ultimate Elite Eight test. Watkins thrives under pressure, as evidenced by her 25-point outburst against UConn earlier this season, and with Iriafen bolstering the defense, she’ll be free to unleash her full offensive arsenal.
