If there’s one thing Juju Watkins knows how to do, aside from dropping buckets and breaking records, it’s keeping the internet talking. The USC sophomore and women’s basketball wunderkind has thrown some not-so-subtle shade—or, let’s say, an honest curveball—in a recent interview about the WNBA’s meteoric rise in popularity.
While fans of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese might’ve expected the young phenom to sing their praises, Watkins went off-script. Instead of hyping the college-to-WNBA pipeline superstars, she credited none other than reigning MVP A’ja Wilson for driving the league’s success. Yup, you read that right. Not the drama-filled Reese-Clark rivalry. Not the viral “you can’t see me” memes. Watkins went straight for her idol.
“I’m a big A’ja Wilson fan,” Watkins told Forbes, clearly unbothered by what Twitter fingers might think. “Just the way she’s so dominant on the floor is really inspiring.” Translation: A’ja Wilson is that girl, and Juju doesn’t have time to debate about it.
But wait, there’s more.
Watkins, with the confidence of a player who’s already been compared to Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, and every other basketball GOAT you can think of, doubled down. “I’m more of a player person, not really teams,” she added. (Sorry, LA Sparks, but at least she gave y’all a shoutout for being the hometown squad.)
What really lit up the comment section, though, was Watkins’ noticeable omission of the names Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese—the two players who’ve been the face of heated women’s basketball rivalries for the past few years. Clark’s half-court bombs and Reese’s unapologetic swagger have undeniably brought eyeballs to the game, but apparently, they didn’t make Juju’s short list of WNBA inspirations.
Cue the collective gasp from social media. Fans of Clark and Reese were quick to notice the snub. One user sarcastically wrote, “Guess Caitlin Clark dropping Steph Curry range bombs and Reese owning her haters didn’t count for anything. Okay, Juju.” Another chimed in, “Somebody check Caitlin’s and Angel’s stats and send them to Juju’s DMs. Maybe she forgot.”
But Juju didn’t come here to play the popularity game. With a poise beyond her years, she brushed off comparisons to Clark, Reese, or anyone else, for that matter. “I don’t think too much about comparisons or pressure,” she said coolly. “I just go out there, try to have fun, do what I do, and continue to work hard.”
Translation: Y’all can keep arguing about who’s better—I’m busy getting buckets and bagging sponsorships. (Fun fact: Watkins just landed a State Farm deal, following in Clark’s footsteps. Coincidence? We’ll let you decide.)
Meanwhile, the admiration between Watkins and A’ja Wilson is giving basketball BFF vibes. The two stars shared a heartwarming moment at the ESPYs earlier this year, and it’s clear Watkins sees Wilson as the gold standard of what it means to dominate in the WNBA. “She’s inspiring,” Watkins said, making it crystal clear where her loyalties lie.
As for Clark, Reese, and their fans? They might be feeling a bit snubbed, but let’s not act like this rivalry isn’t helping women’s basketball blow up even more. After all, nothing says “success” like players sparking debates before they’ve even entered the league.
For now, Watkins is staying laser-focused on her USC squad and chasing her own slice of basketball greatness. With comparisons to MJ and Melo already swirling, and a game that’s equal parts flair and fire, Juju doesn’t just want to keep up with the WNBA stars—she wants to surpass them.
The moral of the story? Juju Watkins is coming for everything, whether your fave made her top players list or not. So, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese fans, take a deep breath. The future of women’s basketball is big enough for all the stars—even if Watkins unapologetically put A’ja Wilson at the top of hers.
Let the games—and the Twitter wars—continue.
