"Michael Jordan in the WNBA": Hoops fans compare JuJu Watkins to Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark after USC star makes history

19-year-old USC guard JuJu Watkins entered the 2024-25 college basketball season with immense expectations. She made a name in her freshman year as a unanimous All-American and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Leading USC to an Elite Eight berth, Watkins averaged an impressive 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Now in her sophomore season, Watkins scored 40 points in just three quarters against CA Baptist on Tuesday. This performance marked her 16th career NCAA game with 30 or more points. Fans are starting to draw comparisons between Watkins and other basketball greats on X:

“Two more years and we get Michael Jordan in the WNBA. Then you’ll see some real rivalries from IMO. Caitlin, JuJu, Paige about to start making more millionaires and large endorsements in league."

"MJ," another commented.

The record for the most 30-point games in a player’s first two seasons currently belongs to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who tallied 23 during her time with the Hawkeyes. Clark is now in the WNBA, however, Watkins fans think she appears poised to surpass it along with Paige Bueckers.

"She gone give Paige Bueckers a run for her money for player of the year."

"A lot of the people praising JuJu for her performance against California Baptist would completely dismiss that type of performance from Paige if it was against a big east team," another fan commented.

"Yeah she’s got next. I don’t wanna hear anything about Paige. JuJu and Caitlin will dominate the next decade," one fan said.

"Plays like Carmelo and Kobe," one fan declared.

Other fans weren't so sure:

"All I remember was JuJu getting abused by Paige Ngl," one fan noted.

"Lol. Caitlin would’ve put up 60," one fan reflected.

JuJu Watkins could leave a legacy in college basketball akin to Caitlin Clark's

While JuJu Watkins is building her legacy, Caitlin Clark is a pivotal figure in women’s basketball. During her college career at Iowa, she became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both men and women. Her rookie season with Indiana earned her Rookie of the Year honors and saw the Fever make its first playoff appearance since 2016.

The league’s 2024 season boasted the highest regular-season viewership in 24 years and the largest attendance in over two decades. Digital engagement and merchandise sales also hit new peaks, largely driven by Clark’s popularity.

JuJu Watkins is following a similar trajectory. She made history as the fastest player this century to reach 1,000 career points, achieving the milestone in just 38 games, surpassing Caitlin Clark's previous record of 40 games. Watkins showcased her defensive prowess with three blocks, a +51 plus/minus, and no turnovers.

Despite the achievement, Watkins was frustrated after missing her only free throw in the fourth quarter, finishing 7-for-8 from the line.

After breaking the school record, she reflected on the post-game conference saying, "The goal is to have fun always; I shoot my best when I'm not really thinking."

Following a summer spent improving her shooting range, JuJu Watkins is focused on increasing her shooting percentage and USC (7-1) will face Oregon (6-2) on Saturday.