Carmelo Anthony Warns WNBA as Juju Watkins’ Injury Leaves NCAA Future In Jeopardy

March Madness. A packed arena. All eyes are on you. Then, in an instant, everything changes. You hit the floor, and by the time you come to, the news is crushing: you’ve torn your ACL. Your season is over. That’s exactly what happened to USC sensation JuJu Watkins during the second-round game against Mississippi State. Watkins’ injury isn’t just a personal setback. It exposes a much bigger issue in women’s basketball. And Carmelo Anthony has something to say about it.

Before this unforeseen injury, JuJu Watkins was having an outstanding freshman year. She was averaging 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds and dished out 3.3 assists per game. So it was no surprise when she was mentioned in the same breath as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for the best player in the country. And with that kind of stardom, money follows.

The 2021 NIL rule change has enabled college athletes to earn compensation. Watkins is one of the top earners in women’s basketball, college or pro. This brings us to Carmelo Anthony’s perspective. In a recent episode of ‘7PM in Brooklyn,’ the hosts analyzed JuJu Watkins’ injury, her recovery, and the big question: What’s next? Will she return to the NCAA, or is the WNBA calling her name?

Carmelo empathized that JuJu has no reason to rush for WNBA, stating: “This is a message to the WNBA: figure it out. I’m not rushing. I wasn’t supposed to come out till after next year anyway, so while y’all figure that out, I’m gonna collect this bag over here at USC because because the money that I make at USC over the next three years will be a lot more money than what she would make coming into the WNBA.” 

He’s got a point. Watkins is already one of the biggest earners in women’s basketball, college or pro. Playing in a major market at a school like USC, she’s a top NIL target. According to On3, she ranks No. 6 in NIL valuation, sitting at $739K, and that number’s only climbing. And JuJu has been marketable right since her high school days. She signed with Klutch Sports in high school for NIL representation. It is an agency that represents stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

JuJu struck a deal with Nike in 2022. After a stellar freshman year, she signed a multi-year contract extension with Nike that was reportedly one of women’s basketball’s biggest sneaker endorsement deals. In October last year, she paired up with Gatorade, being only the third college basketball player after Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark to do that. Not only endorsements, JuJu is taking it on her own to promote herself.

Last November, she launched her own documentary series, “On the Rise: JuJu Watkins,” for NBC and Peacock. JuJu is the only college athlete to make a docuseries like that while still playing actively. She has deals with Celsius, NYX Professional Makeup, Spotify, Fletcher Jones Mercedes, NerdWallet, and AT&T, among many.

With two years of college eligibility remaining, Watkins retains significant leverage. She can either stay at USC or make the jump to the WNBA. However, there’s a catch: The financial equation doesn’t add up. The top four picks in next year’s draft are projected to make less than $80,000. Meanwhile, Watkins would likely rake in way more staying in LA with the Trojans. That’s why Carmelo had a simple message for the league: “Get the bags right, W.” 

And he’s not wrong. With NIL deals stacking up, Watkins has no reason to rush to heal herself to claim her spot among the pros. The WNBA has to figure out a way to compete because right now, the money’s keeping top talent right where they are.

Top Comment by Glaw00

They don’t make the same money because they don’t have the same draw. Just like the men that played back...more

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Carmelo Anthony defends Caitlin Clark against WNBA critics

The WNBA has long struggled to gain the same recognition as the NBA. But the tides are turning, largely due to Caitlin Clark’s impact. Since she entered the spotlight, WNBA arenas have been at 94% capacity, and most games are selling out. Despite her impact, Clark has faced constant criticism from within the league. And Carmelo Anthony wasn’t about to stay silent.

“We f—ing love her. We love her. We want her,” Anthony said on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast last year. He sees what Clark is dealing with: the physicality, the pressure, and the relentless challenges coming her way. But for Melo, it’s not just criticism; it’s personal. “I think she’s targeted in a way that is competitive targeting. It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going to smoke her, I’m going to bust her,’” he explained. 

Caitlin Clark is filling arenas. JuJu Watkins is pulling in bigger checks than some pros. The game is changing, but is the WNBA ready for it? Carmelo Anthony’s message isn’t just about one player – it’s about the future of women’s basketball. If the league doesn’t adapt, it won’t just be losing stars. It’ll be losing its chance to define an era. The clock is ticking. Will the WNBA answer the call?