JuJu Watkins got into the lane past his defender and sent a beautiful runner into the hoop. The whistle blew and Watkins went up to the line for the and-one. From the Galen Center's loudspeaker, the voice of his DJ Marski, the Trojans' in-house hype man, boomed over the crowd.
As Watkins went for the free throw, Marski exclaimed, “That's right, Jew.”
“Yes, Ju,” the crowd parroted back.
It's understandable why Watkins, this year's top prospect for All-American Freshman of the Year, would provoke this kind of reaction. The 6-foot-2 rookie from the Watts area of Los Angeles has a silky-smooth jumper, veteran poise, and a combination of skill, power, and body control that is rarely seen.
Watkins, the nation's second-leading scorer this season behind Clark, is positioned to be the face of women's basketball as Caitlin Clark heads into the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick. She will be joined by Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo, another favorite among this year's freshmen.
You can't beat any power broker in the game. Both of these players are Black. And in a game built by Black women, it's important that the faces of the future resemble the faces of the past.
As women's basketball has exploded in popularity in recent years, much of the media and marketing attention has focused on three players: Clark, UW junior Paige Backers, and 2020 graduate Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon State. The focus has been on prominent white players.
Too often, the black players who built women's hoops and now dominate the professional level of the WNBA, which is 70% black, are not recognized. Sometimes they are erased from the record books altogether, like when former Kansas standout Lynette Woodard's Division I scoring record was not recognized by the NCAA.
“I don't think it's anybody's fault or anybody's intention,” Southern California coach Lindsey Gottlieb told USA TODAY Sports. “However, there is still not enough commercial support for Black female superstars in our society.”
As women's basketball grows in popularity, white players get the most attention
Part of it has to do with position. Casual fans are fascinated by the playmakers and athletes who create shots with the ball in their hands. Paint He Players may have good footwork, but that doesn't usually translate into reel highlights. Consider power forward A'ja Wilson, perhaps the best player in the world, whose award history is longer than Walgreens' and doesn't have Clark's star power.
One of the best playmakers at all levels of the women's game, Watkins understands why “people are drawn to shot creators and craftiness.” But she and others know it's not just about who gets the points.
One key issue, WNBA players say, is that the college game is much more accessible than the pros. Clark and Iowa regularly play for the Foxes, as do the Buccaneers and Yukon. Inoescu and the Ducks played numerous primetime games on ESPN. Last March, the NCAA Women's Championship was broadcast on a non-cable channel (ABC) for the first time, and a similar broadcast is planned for this year.
At USA Basketball training camp last month, Las Vegas star Kelsey Plum said she hoped the WNBA would get a better media rights deal and that “my mom wouldn't have to jump through 10 hoops to watch us play.” I joked. streaming platform.
But it's also something deeper.
In her speech at the 2021 ESPYs, Bakkers acknowledged as much, saying, “With the light that I have right now as a white woman leading a Black-led sport…I want to shine a light on Black women. .They are not.” “They will get the media coverage they deserve. They make a huge contribution to the sport, the community and society as a whole and their value is undeniable.”
In 2022, Plumb told ESPN.com that there was no question that she received a significant promotion from the league early in her career because she is “straight and white.” On the other hand, Wilson said the league can be guilty of promoting only what it deems marketable, and that “sometimes black women don't check those boxes.” WNBA players feel injustice every day.
Players like Watkins and Hidalgo could help change that narrative.
“Some of the most legendary players and coaches in the history of this game have been black women: Sheryl Miller, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn (Staley),” said Notre Dame's fourth-year head coach. said Niele Ivey, who has played for Ireland since 2016. From 1997 to his 2001. “There are so many great Black women who have made a huge impact on women’s basketball; teeth basketball. Having Hannah already included in that conversation is a source of great pride for me, especially as a woman of color myself. ”
Ivey calls Hidalgo and Watkins “must-see TV” and believes their swagger will draw new fans to the game. Ivey said there's something for everyone, even those who aren't interested in basketball. The invention of NIL has made it possible for college athletes to build personal brands and followers. Ivey said the players' interests outside the gym (Hidalgo is outspoken about his faith, while Watkins is passionate about bettering the Los Angeles community) will broaden their appeal. thinking.
But make no mistake, their on-court play will lead the way.
Ivey credits some of that to Clark and LSU All-American Angel Reese. When LSU defeated Iowa to win last year, there was some major trash talk between the two sides. Reese, who is black, was called undignified for jawing Clark, but Clark himself also talked a lot of trash throughout the tournament. Reese later told critics, “This is for girls who look like me.” The superstars attracted attention in part because of the emotions they displayed.
“Then their games continued,” Ivey said. “Their game backed everything up and they were elite. It really helped strengthen and improve women's basketball, and now Hannah and JuJu, who are the future of the game, ) play with the boldness we need to keep the spotlight on us.”
'It's about time' black women get the recognition they deserve
The irony of Watkins dominating the college game is that she hasn't seen much of it. She was busy following the careers of professional players, especially Candace Parker, the two-time WNBA MVP whom Watkins calls “my GOAT.”
Parker, currently with the Las Vegas Aces, played the first 13 years of his professional career with the Los Angeles Sparks. Watkins attended as many games as his junior basketball schedule and his parents allowed, wearing a Parker jersey and giving high fives and hugs after games. She can't imagine that Parker and Watkins, who led Tennessee to two titles in the twilight of her powerhouse years, would be mentioned in the same breath now.And thanks to her play, she has now become friends, or at least friendly — Working with Parker is daunting.
“Can I say we're friends?” Mr. Watkins asked. “That seems weird. I don't think she can say she's friends with the GOAT. But she knows who I am!”
This is the only time a college freshman performed for someone his age. On the court, Watkins is the epitome of cool, consistently recognizing what his team needs and often playing with it without showing a trace of emotion.
Earlier this season, Watkins dropped 51 points against Stanford, an impressive feat for someone playing against one of the game's best tacticians. She almost single-handedly propelled the Trojans into Final Four contention, a goal not reached since 1986, when Cheryl Miller won her third Player of the Year award as a senior.
Gottlieb, who likes to call Watkins her “favorite player's favorite player,” remembers that her star not only changes the game, but also the people who want to watch it.
At USC, you'll often see little girls in the stands with their hair tied up in “juju buns.” During her trip to Arizona, Watkins walked out of the locker room and toward a group of teenage boys chanting her name.
“The whole thing about Ju is that she's an extraordinary talent, she's a master basketball player, and she's aware of her broader scope,” Gottlieb said. “She has a cross-cultural appeal and she knows it.”
For years, the University of Southern California had virtually no spectators. Watkins changed that. USC nearly quadrupled its average attendance this season, holding a sold-out game for the first time since 2007. The best part, Gottlieb said, was that the crowd reflected the diversity of Los Angeles.
Many of those fans show up wearing No. 12, which Watkins calls “a very strange number,” but in the best sense of the word.
“It's crazy to see little boys wearing my jersey,” she said. “This negates all sexist perspectives and ideas about our game. It shows that boys respect girls and don't try to take anything away from her play, that they don't have to compare her to men. Knowing that you can just love her game is a way to break down barriers, so we can make the world a better place.”
Watkins, who is only 18 years old, is happy to shoulder that burden. Because many people before her didn't have that opportunity.
“Black women have blazed a trail in this game,” Watkins said. “So many of them broke down our doors today. It's about time Black women get the recognition they deserve in this sport.”
Watching Watkins and Hidalgo play, sooner or later the recognition and respect will be undeniable.
Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media @Lindsay_Schnell
