The USC female basketball star, Juju Watkins, surpassed one of Caitlin Clark’s greatest milestones on Sunday night and took another step to overcome Clark in the university basketball record books.
In a 72-67 defeat against UCLA in the Big 10 championship game, Watkins put 29 points to officially pass the Clark brand by points scored by a player in his first two seasons.
Clark put 1,662 points in his first two seasons, while Watkins now has 1,684. That places Watkins just behind Kelsey Mitchell for most of any player in his first two seasons, since Mitchell has the record with 1,762.
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The USC female basketball player, Juju Watkins, before a recent game at Cal St. Long Beach in Long Beach, California, on December 21, 2023. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times through Getty Images)
However, Watkins has the opportunity to overcome Mitchell and win even more ground in Clark, since he still has to play in the NCAA tournament this year.
Watkins has the opportunity to break Clark’s record for most points scored by a basketball player, men or women, in the history of NCAA. Clark broke the brand in its historic senior season in 2023-24, with 3,951.
Watkins replaced Clark as the face of female university basketball after Clark began her career at the WNBA last year, and the adolescent admits that breaking Clark’s record is something he maintains at the bottom of her mind.
“Naturally, being in rhythm, it is always at the bottom of my mind,” Watkins said before Pak Gazette Digital in an exclusive interview. “The objective is to continue producing at this level, and doing so in the most efficient way.”
Watkins could have the benefit of playing more games than Clark at the university while the adolescent seeks to pursue the record.
Who is Juju Watkins? Adolescent by the media trying to break the precious record of Caitlin Clark
The South Guard of California, Juju Watkins, firm autographs after a Women’s Basketball game against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Even so, Watkins said he only “wants” that he can play as Clark, which is far from the best 3 -point shooter.
“I wish I play like her,” Watkins said.
Watkins has had the opportunity to break Clark’s record in front of a broader audience for female basketball than in previous years, in the middle of the sequelae of Clark’s transcendent impact on sport during his university career. Last year, the NCAA women’s championship game obtained more spectators than men for the first time in history.
“The attention was not always there, so only seeing the eyes and people who respect the sport more, and the young women who get on the sport more, is a dream come true,” Watkins said.
Watkins has embraced the new fans that Clark has brought to the game, even when other prominent female basketball figures have condemned new fans for negative comments on players that are not Clark.
Within the impact of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on male basketball
Caitlin Clark, on the left, and Juju Watkins. (IMAGN)
“Many new fans in sport can sometimes be, not necessarily challenging, but can give it a little headache.
“We would like it to be positive, but it will not always be so, so while we continue to increase the numbers and the audience, I think that is all we can ask.”
Watkins said even wants those fans to encourage her as well. However, even if they end up “hating her”, she will still hug the fact that they are paying attention. When asked if he wants the controversial sport fans to animate her, Watkins replied: “Oh, yes. I love followers and also love those who hate.
“I think it’s just a part of the game. There are so many sides. So it is the nature of the game and there will always be negative and positive aspects.”
While Watkins seeks to break Clark’s record of annotations, he hopes that many of the new female basketball fans, even those who cause “headaches” and “do not know what they are talking about sometimes,” come to encourage her. But Watkins will also hug these fans and attention if they “hate her.”
“I love followers and I also love those who hate.”
