The top-seeded USC Lady Trojans showcased their strength in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday afternoon, securing a commanding 71-25 win against the No. 16 seed University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans in the Spokane regional. From start to finish, the Trojans demonstrated dominance, excelling particularly in defense and rebounding, with a 60 to 34 advantage on the boards.
The game was relatively uneventful, but following the lopsided victory, superstar sophomore guard JuJu Watkins was spotted in the stands with a surprise guest, NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl selection Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. The former Heisman Trophy winner from LSU has been a long-time supporter of women’s basketball and traveled to witness Watkins and the Lady Trojans in action.
After the USC game, Daniels, Watkins, and Daniels’ mother stayed to watch the matchup between Mississippi State and Cal at the Galen Center.
Daniels, along with other celebrities like Kevin Hart, Issa Rae, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, had previously attended Watkins’s remarkable performance against the UCLA Bruins earlier this year. It’s clear that Watkins attracts star power wherever the Lady Trojans play; she is one of the most prominent figures in basketball, extending beyond just women’s basketball. Her stardom is evolving as brightly as any college basketball player has in recent history.
Daniels’s presence sparked romance rumors, but there are no confirmed signs that the two athletes are in a relationship. Speculation is natural when high-profile athletes meet in such a public setting, but both hail from Southern California, are Nike signees, and Daniels’s mother, who was also present and acts as his agent, is a fan of Watkins.
On the court, Watkins delivered her usual impressive performance with 22 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists, shooting 48 percent from the field in 28 minutes of play. Although she was seen limping after rolling her ankle, she appeared to recover quickly, and the injury is not deemed serious. Watkins made history by becoming just the second woman in NCAA history to score over 1,700 points in her first two seasons, and she also climbed to sixth place on the all-time scoring list for the Lady Trojans just after two seasons.
JuJu Watkins and Jayden Daniels at the NCAA Women's tourney 🙌
Daniels pulled up to watch Watkins and USC get their first round win 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/WoZiTYyuQd
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 22, 2025
The Lady Trojans will face off against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs on Monday, with the game set to air on ESPN. After her minor injury, Watkins is anticipated to be fully active for the matchup. If she maintains her impressive scoring streak, she has the potential to further etch her name in history.
If the Lady Trojans make a significant advance in the tournament, Watkins could secure a spot in the top five of all-time scorers for USC women’s basketball and possibly earn the title of national player of the year
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