In the world of women’s basketball, USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins has been breaking records and collecting accolades at a historic pace. The 2025 Wooden Award winner and Naismith National Player of the Year has quickly established herself as one of college basketball’s elite talents, but when it comes to naming her personal “GOAT” Watkins looks beyond the hardwood.
In a touching Mother’s Day tribute posted to her Instagram account, Watkins shared a photo of herself and her mother Sari engaged in community service work with the simple caption “happy mother’s day to my goat ❤️.” The heartfelt post reveals the profound influence and admiration the basketball phenom has for her mother, showing that family bonds remain Watkins’ foundation despite her skyrocketing fame.
Behind JuJu’s Success Stands a Former Athlete and Devoted Mother
JuJu’s Instagram story featuring herself and Sari Watkins working together showcases their shared commitment to community service. The Mother’s Day tribute speaks volumes about who JuJu considers truly deserving of “Greatest Of All Time” status in her life, highlighting the special bond between mother and daughter beyond basketball.
Sari Watkins, having also competed in college track and field, has had a strong impact on the way JuJu perceives her sport and her everyday life.
The family motto “Don’t do nothing if you’re not going to be fully in it” has been one of the success factors in growing JuJu to an extraordinary work ethic on the basketball court. This philosophy has clearly paid dividends as JuJu set the NCAA Division I freshman scoring record with 920 points.
The Watkins Legacy: More Than Just Basketball
The strong mother and daughter relationship exists within a family deeply committed to community service. JuJu’s great grandfather, Ted Watkins Sr. founded the Watts Labor Community Action Committee following the 1965 Watts Riots establishing a legacy of giving back that continues through generations of the Watkins family.
Sari has worked tirelessly to keep JuJu grounded despite her daughter’s meteoric rise in basketball. She rarely misses JuJu’s games and is even responsible for creating JuJu’s signature pre game hair bun, a ritual that has become part of the player’s on court identity. When asked about the special technique, Sari playfully keeps the secret to herself.
While JuJu receives great accolades in the form of her record breaking points record by becoming the fastest USC player to reach 1,000 career points in just 38 games, she continues to perform well in terms of following the family and community priorities that she grew up with.
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Through fundraisers and community events in her hometown, JuJu embodies the values Sari instilled in her, proving that even as her star rises in basketball, her greatest influence remains the woman she proudly calls her “GOAT.”
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