JuJu Watkins Making Early Push for Caitlin Clark's Spot

JuJu Watkins Making Early Push for Caitlin Clark's Spot originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

There’s no question Caitlin Clark continues to draw massive attention both inside and outside the WNBA. Every Indiana Fever game is a media event, and following the former Iowa star has become a daily ritual for many basketball fans.

But there's another name gaining traction as the next potential face of the WNBA, JuJu Watkins. She hasn’t even played in the league yet, but she's already making waves and challenging Clark’s status as the league’s biggest star.

In a recent player poll conducted by The Athletic, WNBA players were asked who they believe will be the face of the WNBA in five years. 39 responses came in, and Clark led the voting, but Watkins came in second, ahead of notable names like Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and A’ja Wilson.

WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark as the most likely to be the face of the league in 5 years pic.twitter.com/ZNLlI1h4ti

— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) July 15, 2025

The 2025 John R. Wooden Award winner, Watkins will begin her third season with the USC Trojans this fall. Her sophomore year was cut short after she tore her right ACL during the NCAA Tournament. USC hopes to have her back for the latter part of the 2025-26 season.

Before the injury, Watkins had established herself as one of the top players in the country. She finished the season as the fourth-leading scorer in the nation and collected several honors, including the Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year and USWBA National Player of the Year.

Watkins' resume extends well beyond college. She helped Team USA win the 2021 FIBA Under-16 AmeriCup in Mexico, averaging 20 points per game and earning MVP honors. In high school, she became the first female athlete to sign with Klutch Sports Group and quickly built one of the most lucrative NIL portfolios in college basketball. Her deal with Nike is reportedly among the biggest in the sport.

As the WNBA continues to grow, the spotlight won't stay on just one player for long. Caitlin Clark may be leading the league in headlines now, but JuJu Watkins is already on deck.

Related: Indiana Fever Rookie Makes Honest Admission on WNBA Teammates

Related: Aliyah Boston Comments on Caitlin Clark's Clear Change in Physical Appearence

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.