JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
USC Trojans bench reacts as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kayla Williams #4, Kayla Padilla #45JuJu Watkins #12, along with McKenzie Forbes #25 of the USC Trojans react as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
USC Trojans bench reacts as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins (12) and her USC teammates celebrate as India Otto scores late in an 87-55 first-round victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in an NCAA Tournament game Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Galen Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, left, along with Associate head Coach Beth Burns of the USC Trojans look on against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins, right, of the USC Trojan reacts with teammates as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A Texas A&M-CC Islanders based member looks on as USC Trojans defeated the Texas A&M-CC Islanders 87-55 to win a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Forbes #25 of the USC Trojans reacts after scoring against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans shoots against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans reaches for the loose ball against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kayla Williams #4 of the USC Trojans loses the ball agains the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans hugs India Otto #2 of the USC Trojans after she scored and the Trojans defeated the Texas A&M-CC Islanders 87-55 to win a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
USC Trojans bench reacts as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
USC Trojans bench reacts as India Otto (not pictured) of the USC Trojans scores against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Forbes #25 of the USC Trojans reacts after scoring against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the second half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans reaches for the loose ball against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans shoots a free-throw against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans shoots against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Royce Chadwick of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders looks on against the USC Trojans in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kayla Williams #4 of the USC Trojans drives to th basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rayah Marshall #13 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans is fouled driving to the basket by Tymberlin Criswell #2 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
McKenzie Forbes #25 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dominique Darius #21 of the USC Trojans loses the ball against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb of the USC Trojans reacts against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kaitlyn Davis #24 of the USC Trojans reboots against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kaitlyn Davis #24 of the USC Trojans reaches for the loose ball against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans reaches for the rebound over Violeta Verano #24 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kaitlyn Davis #24 of the USC Trojans controls the ball against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans shoots against Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans prepares to shoot a free-throw against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Nabaweeyah McGill #32 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders rebounds over Clarice Akunwafo #34 of the USC Trojans in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Clarice Akunwafo #34 of the USC Trojans rebound against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kaitlyn Davis #24 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against Sasha Shishkina #15 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rayah Marshall #13 of the USC Trojans rebounds agains Nabaweeyah McGill #32 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
First round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball games at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
First round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball games at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Rayah Marshall #13 of the USC Trojans reaches for the rebound against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans passes against Paige Allen #11 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans drives to the basket against the Texas A&M-CC Islanders in the first half of a first round women’s NCAA Tournament basketball game at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — She and Cheryl Miller are similar in many ways, JuJu Watkins expressed after USC’s win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday, two standard-bearers of different USC eras who burned with a competitive fire like few of their peers.
But their expressiveness, Miller noted, is different. When she burst to the cup for an and-one, back in her 1980s playing days? Everyone knew it was an and-one. Everyone from the courtside fans to the distant concession workers. Watkins, Miller described, moves different, effortlessly precise as a skilled pickpocket.
“She,” Miller told the Southern California News Group in late February, “is like that silent killer.”
And Watkins snapped Miller’s single-season program scoring record as quiet as ever, a simple backdoor layup early in the first quarter of USC’s 87-55 win Saturday. A packed-out crowd at Galen, featuring Miller sitting in the lower basin — a row behind athletic director Jen Cohen and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — barely budged, unaware of the milestone. When the feat was mentioned to Watkins postgame, she was gracious but rather unexpressive.
“Oh, I wasn’t even aware that happened,” Watkins said, a freshman who’s regularly made history seem as common as any old Tuesday.
A couple minutes later, another feat was pointed out to Watkins, an infinitely miniscule one in comparison — she’d turned the ball over just once against Corpus-Christi, on the first possession of the game.
She gasped. Genuinely proud.
“That’s crazy,” she smiled. “That’s — good news.”
This was a more measured Watkins, in her first foray into March Saturday afternoon, leading USC to an easy win in a workmanlike 23-point performance with little wasted effort and few forced possessions. A silent killer. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb anticipated in the week leading up that Corpus-Christi could throw something defensively at USC they hadn’t seen in months, after a gauntlet of familiar scouts in Pac-12 play, and they did — mixing coverages and often simply playing straight man on Watkins.
She took advantage, dropping in a couple get-to-my-spot jumpers for 19 points early in the third quarter to push USC’s lead to 19. And then, notably, she relaxed when Corpus-Christi threw more bodies at her, keeping the ball moving on the perimeter and making smart reads as USC danced its way to a 35-point quarter to completely break the game open. Indeed, after a season of all-out effort, sprained ankles and scraped knees that often led to sloppy turnovers, Watkins dished four assists to just one giveaway Saturday.
“It’s so impressive, and I think just a testament to her maturity,” senior Kayla Padilla said in the locker room postgame, talking about Watkins’ improvement. “And how she’s able to sort of, be fluid, no matter what’s thrown at her.”‘
USC built a major lead early with some furious defense, going on a 21-0 run in the first quarter on the back of seven blocks. Reserves Clarice Akunwafo (five blocks) and Kayla Williams (four steals) provided a major defensive lift all night, Williams shining particularly in a stretch to close the second quarter after Corpus-Christi had cut USC’s lead to nine, pressing the ball like a moth to a flame as the Trojans regained momentum.
And in the third quarter, senior McKenzie Forbes took over as Watkins stepped back, scoring a remarkable 16 of her 23 points in the frame. With less than a minute left in the quarter, a loose ball dribbled its way right to Forbes in transition, who picked it up behind the three-point line and launched without hesitation.
Bottom. She turned the home crowd, louder than it had been all night, sticking out her tongue for emphasis.
“Kenzie is playing as well, I think, as virtually any guard in the country, in terms of leadership and knocking down shots,” Gottlieb said postgame.
Forbes finished an efficient 9-of-14 from the floor, adding three steals. Big Rayah Marshall continued a stretch of dominance with 10 points and 11 rebounds, her fifth double-double in her last six games. And USC built such a lead in the fourth quarter that fifth-year reserve India Otto, who’d played all of seven minutes all season, checked in to make a layup and a three, the crowd at Galen louder than it’d been all night in support of a program mainstay.
It was a dominant effort, top-to-bottom. And led again, by Watkins, that silent killer continuing to demonstrate a poise beyond her years on the grandest possible stages.
“She makes others around her better, not just with, she has attention and she kicks for a three for somebody else,” Gottlieb said postgame. “She makes those around her better by — I believe there’s a greater confidence in our locker room all the time, because of the way JuJu carries herself.”
