JuJu Watkins Wins 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Following Stellar Season

The USC sophomore becomes the first Trojan to earn the honor since Lisa Leslie in 1994, despite a season-ending ACL injury during the NCAA Tournament.

• JuJu Watkins was named the 2025 Naismith Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game this season.
• Watkins is the first USC player to win the award since Lisa Leslie in 1994, cementing her status as a generational talent in women’s basketball.
• Her season ended prematurely on March 24, 2025, due to a torn ACL sustained during the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
• USC finished the 2024-25 season with a 31-4 record, a Big Ten regular-season championship, and an Elite Eight appearance despite her absence in the later rounds.
• Watkins expressed gratitude for the support she received after her injury and praised her teammates for their resilience during the postseason.

5 Articles

EssentiallySports USA TODAY Los Angeles Times Orange County Register