USC Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, presented by MOLECULE, as one of the 10 student-athletes vying for this prestigious honor. During the regular season, Watkins ranked in the top five for blocks and steals in the Big Ten.
Other semifinalists include UCLA center Lauren Betts, Tennessee guard Takaysia Cooper, Texas guard Rori Harmon, Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, LSU forward Aneesah Morrow, TCU center Sedona Prince, West Virginia guard JJ Quinerly, Ohio State guard/forward Taylor Thierry, and Florida State forward Makayla Timpson.
From her freshman year, Watkins has made a significant offensive impact, but her defensive skills have propelled her to an elite level as a player. This was particularly evident in the Trojans’ first match against their crosstown rival, then-No. 1 UCLA, in mid-February.
In front of a packed crowd at the Galen Center, Watkins delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with 38 points, 11 rebounds, eight blocks, and five assists, handing the Bruins their first loss of the season. With these remarkable stats, she became the first player in this century—male or female—to achieve such numbers in college basketball.
The Los Angeles native has helped USC to a 28-3 overall record, which includes a 9-2 performance against top-25 teams, as well as the program’s first regular-season title since 1994. Currently, she averages 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game for the No. 4 ranked Trojans, and those figures rise to 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game against top 10 opponents.
Watkins has built an impressive resume in her sophomore year, being named the Big Ten Player of the Year—USC’s first conference player of the year since Cherie Nelson in 1988. She has also been recognized as The Athletic’s National Player of the Year and received unanimous All-Big Ten First Team and All-Defensive Team honors, as well as a place on the Big Ten All-Tournament team.
As she approaches the all-time scoring record set by former Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, the spotlight remains on Watkins. She has already scored 1,684 points, surpassing Clark’s 1,662 points in her first two seasons. Clark had an explosive final two seasons at Iowa that included consecutive trips to the national championship.
Watkins has played a key role in elevating the USC program back into the national conversation. Despite losing to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament championship, the Trojans are projected to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, aiming for their first national championship since 1984. The official tournament bracket will be revealed on Sunday, March 16.
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