The Caitlin Clark-JuJu Watkins comparisons have continued to generate heated debates about college hoop experts and fans.
College Basketball Analyst Weighs In on Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins Comparison
An analyst, Robin Lundberg, weighed in on the debate on his YouTube channel Tuesday, stating that both players are compliments to each other.
“When it comes to JuJu Watkins comparisons to Caitlin Clark, really, they’re a compliment to Caitlin Clark, if you think about it,” Lundberg said. “Now, let me first address this idea that JuJu Watkins is not promoted at the level Caitlin Clark was. That’s just false.
“Caitlin wasn’t promoted until organically she became so popular. JuJu Watkins, I’d argue, has been promoted far more than Caitlin Clark was, relative to where she was in her college career.”
Lundberg said that Watkins’ relatively faster popularity showed the growth of women’s college basketball. He noted that the comparisons were a great way to promote the sport.
JuJu Watkins Reacts to Being Compared to Caitlin Clark
With Clark gone to the WNBA, Watkins has been endorsed by many fans and experts as the new face of women’s college basketball.
The 19-year-old broke Clark’s record as the fastest Power Four player to reach 1,000 points in November 2024, which fueled the comparison between her and the Indiana Fever star. Her following in Clark’s footsteps to become State Farm’s second NIL signing was also interpreted to mean that the comparisons were not ending anytime soon.
However, Watkins was unbothered by the comparisons, preferring to focus on herself and her game.
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“I would say I just do my best to be myself and play my way,” Watkins said per Athlon Sports in November 2024. “I don’t really think too much about the comparisons or the pressure, but I would say I just go out there and try to have fun, do what I do, and continue to work hard. I think that’s my mentality always.”
Despite Watkins’ stellar season with the Trojans, many believe she is still a long way from filling Clark’s big shoes. During her collegiate career with Iowa, Clark became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer and was a two-time national player of the year.
Meanwhile, Watkins has been named Big Ten Player of the Year, becoming the first USC player to do so since Cherie Nelson in 1988. She was also named unanimous All-Big Ten First Team and All-Defensive Team honors.
More importantly, Watkins is still in her sophomore year, meaning she has more time to surpass Clark’s stellar records in women’s college basketball.
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