JuJu Watkins joins elite company of Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore and Courtney Paris after receiving AP Player of the Year honor

By Lindsey Ware

Modified Apr 03, 2025 20:23 GMT

NCAA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round USC-Mississippi State - Source: Imagn

On Thursday, the Associated Press named USC star JuJu Watkins its women's college basketball Player of the Year. She is the fourth sophomore to receive the AP Player of the Year award.

Watkins joins the elite company of Courtney Paris, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart, sophomores who have been given the award.

Paris became the first sophomore to be named Player of the Year in 2007 at Oklahoma. The center led the Big 12 in points, with 23.5 per game, rebounds, with 15.9, and blocks, with 3.4. She was a first-round pick in the 2009 WNBA draft and played professionally until 2019. Paris now serves as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky.

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Moore was named AP's POTY in 2009 at UConn. In the NCAA tournament title season, the sophomore forward averaged 19.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 3.3 apg. Moore served as a two-way force, averaging 1.9 spg and 1.5 bpg. She would go on to receive the honor again as a senior.

The Huskies star was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft and had a strong professional career with the Minnesota Lynx. Moore was a four-time WNBA champion and a six-time All-Star. She had her number retired by the Lynx.

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Stewart became the third sophomore to win the honor of AP POTY and the second from UConn. She received the award in 2014 after averaging 19.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 3.1 apg for the Huskies. Stewart showed her defensive depth with 2.8 bpg and 1.6 spg.

UConn won the national championship in each year of the four years Stewart played there. Further, the forward was named Player of the Year in her junior and senior seasons.

Stewart was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft and currently plays for the New York Liberty. She is a two-time MVP, a three-time WNBA champion, and a six-time All-Star pick.

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As the fourth-ever sophomore to receive the AP Player of the Year honor, Watkins has achieved an impressive feat and joins an elite group of ballers.

JuJu Watkins' sophomore season at USC

Coming off of a freshman campaign in which she was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year, Watkins did not disappoint as a sophomore. She led USC in points, with 23.9, and assists, with 3.4. Watkins helped the Trojans remain one of the top teams in the country all season and be named a No. 1 seed in March Madness.

The talented young guard showed her rebounding excellence with 6.8 per game and served as a two-way force for USC, putting up 2.2 spg and 1.8 bpg.

Watkins' sophomore season ended abruptly when she tore her ACL in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but the injury can't minimize her dominance this season. Along with being named the AP POTY, Watkins was named Player of the Year by Naismith and the USBWA.

About the author

Lindsey Ware is a college sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over five years of experience working with publications such as The News & Observer, The Daily Tar Heel, Triangle Tribune and Cardiac Cane. She has also worked for Major League Baseball, The Holly Springs Salamanders, The Tri-City Chili Peppers, Tuffy Talk, Super Meteors Basketball, Just Good Network and Living Sport.

Lindsey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill. Her education allowed Lindsey to gain experience in sports communication, which she honed in internships. Other than being a storyteller and sports fanatic, Lindsey is also a social media and marketing specialist.

Her favorite college team is UNC, although she grew up a N.C. State fan as both of her parents are Wolfpack alumni. Michael Jordan was a huge deal in North Carolina when Lindsey was growing up, and after a summer spent at UNC’s Sports Journalism Camp back in high school, Lindsey was set on being a Tar Heel.

Lindsey's favorite college coach of all time is Roy Williams. During her time attending UNC Chapel Hill and writing for The Daily Tar Heel, Lindsey was lucky enough to meet and speak with Williams a few times. He was like a celebrity on UNC’s campus and was beloved for his coaching style and success with the Tar Heels, accumulating three NCAA championship titles in 18 years.

When not watching or writing about sports, Lindsey enjoys reading, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with my friends, family and dog. She also likes to journal, watch movies and paint.

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Edited by Abhimanyu Gupta