USC's JuJu Watkins wins Wooden Award, earning consensus National Player of the Year honors from major outlets

FILE - Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) plays against UCLA during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE – Southern California guard JuJu Watkins (12) plays against UCLA during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

USC star JuJu Watkins was named the winner of the John R. Wooden Award on Saturday, giving her a sweep of the major National Player of the Year awards.

Watkins earned the award over fellow finalists Paige Bueckers (UConn), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and Madison Booker (Texas). 

Watkins was previously named the Naismith National Player of the Year and the Associated Press National Player of the Year. 

Watkins, a sophomore guard, led USC to a 28-3 regular season record and No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. She suffered a torn ACL in USC’s second-round game against Mississippi State that ended her season. USC went on to lose to UConn in the Elite Eight with Watkins sidelined. 

In 33 games this season, Watkins averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals an 1.8 blocks per game as a force on both sides of the ball. 

This story will be updated.

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