Women's basketball is in good hands going forward. Not only does it have a glimmering supernova in Iowa star Caitlin Clark — a bundle of shot-making goodness and play-making nous the likes of which hasn't been seen in the sport in some time.
But there's another constellation leaving star shine all across the Golden State.
USC standout JuJu Watkins is filling up the stat sheet with increasing regularity, posting numbers that eclipse those of even a younger Clark. The freshman is the latest in a string of stars to emerge while sporting the Trojans' colors, joining the likes of Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, and Tina Thompson as USC stalwarts. It's still early days in her playing career. But if she can continue her scoring pace, Watkins could very well stand above all of them when she departs Pasadena.
Watkins is the most productive collegiate freshman since Clark exploded for 26.6 points a night back in 2020-21. Quiet as it's kept, the Trojans' youngster is on pace to shatter the records Clark spent four years (or more) accruing.
BUY NOW: Caitlin Clark 'You Break It, You Own It' Nike shirt
Nothing is guaranteed in the college game. But Watkins could very well be the best player to grace the hardwood this year. And she's not even 19 yet.
Can Watkins outshine Clark over the course of her career? The numbers paint a very enticing picture, one that could indicate that a changing of the guard is on the horizon.
Here's what you need to know about Watkins and her pursuit of Clark's record marks.
JuJu Watkins vs. Caitlin Clark
Clark is nothing if not prolific, trotting across the hardwood ballroom with vigor. She's at her best when she's able to launch up threes from beyond the stratosphere. And she's shown a proclivity for doing so since she first stepped onto a college court.
MORE: Caitlin Clark, Iowa fight to get back on No. 1 line in latest women's bracket projections
Clark averaged 26.6 points per game as a freshman, owing in large part to her three-point theatrics. Clark made 40.6% of her threes in her maiden season in Des Moines and took part in 30 games. She nabbed 799 points in her first season, one of the most prolific campaigns for a college newcomer in NCAA history.
Freshman Caitlin Clark with 28 points 6 assists & 6 rebounds today in the win over Rutgers! @CaitlinClark22 pic.twitter.com/VoaNvWF6v6
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) December 31, 2020
Watkins is on an even more torrid pace to start her college career. The 18-year-old has amassed 810 points through 30 games this season, good for an average of 27.0 points a night.
JUJU WATKINS 👏
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 26, 2024
Broke the USC freshman record for most points scored in a season!
Last 8 Games
30 PTS, 3 BLK, 3 STL
42 PTS, 4 STL
18 PTS, 11 REB
33 PTS, 8 AST, 4 STL
32 PTS, 7 AST, 4 BLK
31 PTS, 7 REB
29 PTS, 4 STL
51 PTS, 11 REB
VIDEO: @btweenxthelinespic.twitter.com/Q6uYl5Bth5
If she were to continue this pace and play in the same number of games as Clark did as a first-year, she would end the season with 834 points, 35 more than Clark totaled as a freshman.
| JuJu Watkins, 2023-24 | Caitlin Clark, 2020-21 | |
| 30 | GP | 30 |
| 27.0 | Points per game | 26.6 |
| 810 | Points | 799 |
| 272-671 | FGs Made/Att. | 266-564 |
| 40.5 | FG Pct. | 47.2 |
| 58-179 | 3-Pts Made/Att. | 116-286 |
| 32.4 | 3-Pt. Pct. | 40.6 |
| 208-246 | FTs Made/Att. | 151-176 |
| 84.6 | FT Pct. | 85.8 |
Not only would that represent a wonderful first year in college for Watkins. It would also put her on pace to shatter Clark's points record come the end of Watkins' college career.
Now, there's a whole host of factors that can impact Watkins scoring rate going forward. She has to stay healthy, for starters; Clark has been a pillar of consistency throughout her playing career, taking part in 133 games (and counting) over the course of her time at Iowa — an average of more than 32 per season. Injuries can be a scornful sorceress. As long as Watkins can stay on the floor, she should be able to compete for the scoring crown.
Additionally, Watkins and the Trojans need to have postseason success. Postseason scoring counts toward the scoring record. Getting deeper in the conference and NCAA tournaments would provide Watkins with more opportunities to score more points. Clark was able to rack up 38 appearances last season after the Hawkeyes raced to the Big Ten tournament crown and a spot in the national championship.
A strong showing in this year's NCAA Tournament for the Women of Troy could go a long way in helping Watkins shatter Clark's scoring totals as a freshman and put her on a platform to usurp Clark in basketball posterity.
At present, Watkins' usage rate of 43.5% exceeds that of Clark (40.5%), meaning she has the ball in her hands more than the Iowa superstar. Perhaps she'll see less of the ball going forward, especially if her play-making skills begin to blossom. For now, though, Watkins has all the makings of a ball-dominant guard capable of chasing — and perhaps surpassing — Clark's scoring totals come the end of her four-year spell in Pasadena.