Candace Parker couldn’t help but let her inner hype-woman shine after USC Trojans’ thrilling 72-70 takedown of the UConn Huskies. It was a Saturday showdown dripping with drama, packed with star power, and enough fire to melt an ice rink. Parker, a WNBA legend who’s no stranger to big moments herself, celebrated the Trojans’ victory on her Instagram story with a post that perfectly mixed sass and support.
“Winning at UConn is only second to dunking on emmmmm,” Parker wrote, tagging rising USC superstar JuJu Watkins. That’s right, folks, when you dethrone one of the biggest teams in women’s basketball on their own turf, even legends stand up and cheer.
JuJu Watkins Steals the Spotlight
The night belonged to JuJu Watkins, who dropped a cool 25 points, snagged six rebounds, and dished out five assists, all while shooting an impressive 56% from the field. Talk about showing up and showing out. The freshman phenom made sure Paige Bueckers and the Huskies felt her presence.
Meanwhile, Bueckers, who’s usually the headliner in any game she suits up for, managed 22 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Solid numbers, but let’s be honest—Watkins stole the show like a thief in a basketball jersey.
After the game, Watkins reflected on the power of putting women in the spotlight:
“It’s just a testament to when you give women a platform, we’re going to perform. I think tonight was an excellent game. … It was just beautiful to be a part of. And I couldn’t imagine watching it.”
JuJu, we get it—playing was clearly more fun than being on the sidelines for this one.
Candace Parker and the Case for Better Promotion
This win comes as Parker continues to challenge the basketball establishment to give women’s sports the shine they deserve. In a recent interview on Bloomberg Originals’ “The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly,” Parker didn’t hold back on networks burying the WNBA and women’s sports before stars like Caitlin Clark came along.
“Are you surprised that the viewership was up? Are you surprised that people actually saw the product? It was buried for so long on ESPN,” Parker said, throwing major shade at network executives. She praised social media and streaming platforms for helping to lift women’s sports out of the shadows.
For context, Clark’s NCAA championship appearance was broadcast on ABC for the first time, and—surprise, surprise—the ratings soared. Imagine what could happen if networks stopped treating women’s sports like a secret club.
UConn’s Bruised Ego
As for the Huskies, losing at home is a bitter pill to swallow, especially in front of fans who are used to their team dominating. Paige Bueckers and her squad fought hard, but USC wasn’t there to play nice. The Trojans came to Connecticut with a mission, and they left with a win that sent a clear message: there’s a new wave of talent shaking up women’s basketball, and JuJu Watkins is riding it straight to the top.
So, what’s next for Watkins, Parker, and the Trojans? More wins, more sass, and maybe—just maybe—more Instagram-worthy moments that remind us all why women’s basketball deserves the spotlight.
