JuJu Watkins, the star guard for the USC Trojans, is making a big impact both on and off the court. While she’s already a force in women’s basketball, she’s also earning respect as a leader off the floor through her work with the Nike Athlete Think Tank.
She recently shared on Instagram how excited she is to join the Think Tank’s fourth cohort. The program brings together top athletes to help shape the future of sports, and Watkins made it clear she’s all in on helping the next generation of girls in sports. With her rising hoops career and passion for change, she’s becoming a powerful voice for equality and inclusion in athletics.
JuJu Watkins Joins Nike Athlete Think Tank: A Platform for Change
Nike’s Athlete Think Tank brings top athletes together to help design products, share ideas, and drive change. Now in its fifth year, the group has helped create things like leakproof period gear and has funneled over $4 million into local communities. It’s all about giving athletes a real say in what comes next.
Watkins joined the fourth cohort of this influential group, alongside stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Sue Bird. Her inclusion reflects her growing stature in sports and her potential to influence beyond basketball.
On Instagram, she shared her enthusiasm, writing, “I’m so proud to have joined the fourth cohort of @nike Athlete Think Tank! Having the chance to connect with other athletes and coaches and talk about the things that matter to us and that matter to the next generation of girls has been such a powerful experience. I can’t wait to see what we do together next!”
The post highlights her excitement and strong commitment to collaborating with peers to tackle issues dear to her heart.
At just 19, she will bring a fresh perspective to the Think Tank. Her participation as a college athlete signals Nike’s commitment to amplifying younger voices, blending their insights with those of seasoned professionals. This mix of perspectives fuels the initiative’s ability to address current trends and future challenges in sports culture.
While other notable names have dealt with business as professional athletes, Watkins has a fresh perspective, having emerged during the NIL era of college athletics, with an estimated valuation of $793,000 heading into her junior season.
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Empowering Girls in Sports: Watkins’ Vision Takes Shape
Watkins says her biggest goal is helping girls feel seen and heard in sports. She wants them to know they belong on the court and in every part of the game. That message came through loud and clear in her post.
She also shared a deeper message in her post, a quote from her that stood out on one of the slides of Watkins’ post: “I’m still early in my journey, but I already know the impact we can have as athletes, not just in sport, but in the communities that have poured into us and shaped who we are.”
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