JuJu Watkins is an American basketball player for the USC Trojans and the face of the women’s game’s new era. The number one recruit in her high-school class, she broke the NCAA freshman scoring record, swept the national player of the year awards as a sophomore, then saw her rise interrupted by a torn ACL — setting up one of the most anticipated comebacks in college sports.
| Full Name | Judea Skies Watkins |
| Born | 15 July 2005, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Age | 21 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Basketball player (guard) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Team | USC Trojans |
| Known For | NCAA freshman scoring record, 2025 national player of the year awards, NIL pioneer |
Early Life: From Watts to Sierra Canyon
Judea ‘JuJu’ Watkins grew up in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles, learning the game at the Watts Empowerment Center and on playground courts, with her great-grandfather’s legacy — he founded the center — shaping her sense of purpose. After starting at Windward School, she transferred to Sierra Canyon, the celebrity-factory programme in Chatsworth, and became the consensus number one recruit in the class of 2023, winning national high-school player of the year honours.
Freshman Phenomenon at USC
Watkins chose hometown USC over Stanford and South Carolina, and her freshman season (2023–24) was historic: she scored 920 points, the most by a freshman in NCAA Division I women’s history, averaged over 27 points a game, and carried the Trojans to the Elite Eight. Her battles with Caitlin Clark’s generation of stars helped push women’s college basketball to record television audiences, and her signature bun and smooth mid-range game made her instantly recognisable.
The peak of that freshman year came in February 2024, when Watkins scored 51 points against Stanford — a USC single-game record and one of the highest totals ever by an NCAA freshman — adding 11 rebounds in a signature win. Performances like that made her games appointment viewing: USC’s home crowds swelled with celebrities courtside, and Watkins, still eighteen, handled the attention with a poise coaches compared to the sport’s all-time greats.
Player of the Year — and the ACL Tear
As a sophomore, Watkins led USC to the Big Ten regular-season title and swept the sport’s highest honours — the Naismith Trophy, the Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year. Then, in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State, she tore the ACL in her right knee, ending her season on the spot. In September 2025 she announced she would sit out the entire 2025–26 season to complete her recovery, targeting a return for 2026–27.
NIL Trailblazer
Watkins has been a defining figure of the NIL era in women’s sports. She signed a multi-year Nike deal while still in college, fronted campaigns for Gatorade and Beats, and built one of the largest endorsement portfolios in the women’s college game — all while still an amateur. Her marketability, deliberately rooted in her South Los Angeles upbringing, has made her a case study in how modern college stars build brands before turning professional.
JuJu Watkins Net Worth
Watkins’ net worth is commonly estimated at around $3 million, driven almost entirely by NIL endorsements rather than salary, since college athletes are not paid wages by their schools. Published estimates range from roughly $1.5 million to $3 million and are inherently approximate — NIL deal values are private — but her portfolio places her among the highest-earning women in college sport.
Personal Life
Watkins is deeply connected to her Watts roots; she hosts community events and free basketball clinics in Los Angeles and has said she wants her success to fund opportunities in her neighbourhood. Close to her parents, Robert and Sari, she is known for a calm off-court demeanour that contrasts with her on-court intensity, and for her interest in fashion and business beyond basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is JuJu Watkins?
She was born on 15 July 2005, making her 21 years old in 2026.
What injury did JuJu Watkins suffer?
A torn ACL in her right knee during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. She sat out the 2025–26 season to recover.
What records does JuJu Watkins hold?
She scored 920 points as a freshman at USC — the NCAA Division I women’s freshman scoring record — and won the Naismith, Wooden and AP player of the year awards in 2025.
What is JuJu Watkins’ net worth?
Commonly estimated at around $3 million, built on NIL endorsement deals — an unofficial estimate, as deal values are private.
Related Biographies
Cooper Flagg, Alexandra Eala and Shedeur Sanders — more in our Athletes collection.
Sources
Net worth and salary figures are estimates based on publicly available sources and may change over time.
