{"id":11579,"date":"2025-04-03T12:28:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T19:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/?p=11579"},"modified":"2025-04-03T12:28:08","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T19:28:08","slug":"juju-watkins-named-ap-player-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/juju-watkins-named-ap-player-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"JuJu Watkins Named AP Player of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to JuJu Watkins<\/h2>\n

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – The Lady Trojans may no longer be dancing, but on Thursday, USC star JuJu Watkins earned a prestigious honor.
\nThe award comes after Watkins suffered a torn ACL during Southern California\u2019s Sweet 16 victory over Mississippi State in the women\u2019s NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n

The Year of JuJu Watkins<\/h2>\n

What we know:
\nJuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans. (Photo by Michael Hickey\/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
\nOn Thursday, Watkins was named The Associated Press women\u2019s college basketball Player of the year.
\nWatkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for its first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes from the 31-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Notre Dame\u2019s Hannah Hidalgo got the other two. Both were first-team AP All-Americans.
\nWatkins became just the fourth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma\u2019s Courtney Paris (2007) and UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014). The AP first started giving out the award in 1995 and Watkins is the first Trojans player to win it.
\nWatkins became just the fourth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma\u2019s Courtney Paris (2007) and UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014). The AP first started giving out the award in 1995 and Watkins is the first Trojans player to win it.<\/p>\n

Reaction to the Award<\/h2>\n

What they’re saying:
\n"I think what\u2019s so significant about this award is that this was a year that didn\u2019t have an absence of talent and stars, and JuJu found a way to elevate herself and her team," USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
\n"She makes a lot of things that aren\u2019t easy look easy," Gottlieb said. "It\u2019s one thing to say she\u2019s a generational talent, but another to actually do it and put yourself up with names like Stewie, Maya and Courtney Paris."
\n"She performed her best at the biggest moments," Gottlieb said. "I thought she really throughout the course of the year learned how to dominate and empower the others."<\/p>\n

Impact on USC<\/h2>\n

USC’s average home attendance rose this season<\/h3>\n

By the numbers:
\nWatkins is already one of the top draws in the sport with endorsement deals to match and seeing her in person has become a hotter ticket.
\nThe Trojans\u2019 average home attendance rose to 5,932 this season from last year\u2019s 4,421. Celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart, Jason Sudeikis, Michael B. Jordan and Sanaa Lathan, who starred in "Love & Basketball," one of Watkins\u2019 favorite movies, have shown up. The year before she arrived attendance averaged 1,037.
\n"It\u2019s hard to miss Snoop Dogg in his custom JuJu jacket," Gottlieb said. "This happened organically and authentically. She decided to stay home and cares about her city and has the magnetism to attract people. It\u2019s the way she carries herself. She\u2019s confident, but very humble and true to her community. It\u2019s amazing to see her impact."<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

JuJu Watkins has made a significant impact on the world of college basketball, earning the prestigious AP Player of the Year award in her sophomore year. Her talent, work ethic, and dedication to her team and community have made her a standout player and a role model for young athletes everywhere.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n