USC sophomore JuJu Watkins has set her eyes on WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark’s college point scoring record after reaching major career milestone before the Indiana Fever starlet.
Watkins starred in the Trojans’ 81-50 win over the Santa Clara Broncos on Friday at Galen Center to continue their perfect start to the season. The 19-year-old is just four games into her sophomore season and has been helped the Trojans to a 4-0 record.
On Friday, Watkins played 33 minutes, scoring 22 points with five rebounds and five assists, taking her total career college points tally to 1000 points. The teenager reached the landmark in her 38th game, quicker than Clark managed and tied for the fourth-fewest games in NCAA Division I history.
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Clark went on to become the all time leading scorer in Division I women’s basketball and later the all time leading scorer in Division I basketball both male and female, reaching the milestone in 40 games. According to the NCAA record book, LSU’s Maree Jackson (1976-78), Oregon State’s Carol Menken (1979-81) and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge (1981-84) all reached the mark in 37 games.
“I’m not taking anything for granted,” Watkins said after the game. “Very blessed to be in this position. This is great, something to build off and continue to work on.”
Watkins’ coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, lauded the company that she has joined at such a prestigious college. “When you break a record at USC, it hits a little different because the people you break the record from are so great,” Gottlieb said. “JuJu belongs in that conversation. She’s four games into her sophomore year, and she’s already accomplished something incredible,” the Trojans head coach added: “We’re all comfortable in saying it. It was the great Cheryl Miller who was next.”
Caitlin Clark’s college career points tally is in sight for Watkins (
NBAE via Getty Images)
Watkins set the all-time national record for scoring by a freshman last season with 920 points, making her the 31st player in USC history to reach 1000 points. For comparison, USC’s career scoring leader at 3018 points, Miller, reached 1000 points in 48 games.
The teenage sensation proved her credentials as an elite scorer when she dropped 51 points in a February 2024 game to help the Trojans upset the then-ranked No. 4 Stanford team. She also dropped a current season-high of 27 points as the Trojans got off to a winning start in their narrow season-opening 68-66 win against the Ole Miss Rebels.
Watkins previously appeared on an episode of ‘A Touch More’ with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe where she reflected on how Clark had predicted her rise. Rapinoe shared that Clark once told Watkins’ coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, “I’ve had the attention for a year and a half—two years. Now, JuJu, you’re gonna have it for the next three.”
In her typically grounded manner, Watkins expressed her pride in the recognition saying, “It’s really just a dream come true.” She then added how she is remaining focused on her goals. “My main goal is to just win. I just want a championship regardless of everything else,” she continued.
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