JuJu Watkins looks back at clash vs Paige Bueckers that attracted over 2 million viewers: “Imagine what it will be like in March”

USC guard JuJu Watkins looked back at the clash with her UConn counterpart Paige Bueckers on Dec. 21. She's proud of how old and new fans appreciate the current era of women's basketball.

In an interview with Fox News, Watkins beamed at the viewership numbers in the USC-UConn showdown, which the Trojans won 72-70. It helped continue the rise of the sport following the departures of former college basketball darlings Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the WNBA last year.

The aforementioned game reached an astounding 2.23 million viewers on Fox Sports, becoming the second-highest viewership in a game aired by the network and the most-watched women's college basketball clash this season.

The high-scoring Watkins emphasized that it could be more if this matchup is held during March Madness or deep in the NCAA Tournament.

"For that to not even be a March Madness matchup, and to see that, I can only imagine what it will be like in March," Juju Watkins said.

Barring any major injuries or other basketball-related mishaps, there's a possibility that both teams could meet again in the NCAA Tournament, as UConn and USC are atop their conferences.

The Huskies are atop the Big East Conference with a 14-2 record (5-0 in Big East) while the Trojans are second in the Big Ten at 15-1 and 5-0 conference-wise.

The question of when and how deep they would meet in the knockout phase will depend on how perform in the remainder of the regular season. Their records and other statistical data will become the selection committee's basis on how teams will be ranked in the NCAA Tournament.

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JuJu Watkins appreciates the comments, whether they are positive or negative

USC guard JuJu Watkins has said that she appreciates the comments even if it isn't pleasing or hateful. During the interview, she said that she loves fans coming over to the games.

"I think that's just a part of the game. There's so many sides to it. So it's the nature of the game and there's always going to be negative and positive aspects of it," Watkins said.

The Trojans' leading scorer this season noted that she's aware of the attention she receives from fans. She believes it's great for the sport because it's a concrete basis that they're watching the games.

"We would like it to be positive, but it's not always going to be like that, so as long as we continue to raise the numbers and viewership goes up, I think that's all we can ask for," she said.

Juju Watkins agreed that the women's game is outperforming their male counterparts in viewership and promises to do her part in keeping it that way in the future.