When the NCAA women’s basketball Champion Finale had more viewers than their men’s counterparts, it was considered to be a one-off incident. Then, the game recorded 18.7 million on ABC and ESPN, while the men could only get 14.8 million people. However, critics considered that Caitlin Clark’s arrival had done the deal, which would soon fade away as the former NCAA Queen passed out of college. But if a certain analyst is to be believed, then the USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins could make the NCAA women’s basketball change gears forever.

On Friday’s episode of the Elle Duncan Show, the host took notice of Watkins’ raging skills and how they could impact the game in the coming seasons.

“Next level stars, right… when you have a Zion Williamson or… or any of those things. They can come out after one year. In fact a lot of times you’re judged on whether you come out after one year or right. Like that’s supposed to be the predictor on how important you are… is how quickly you can become a lottery pick. On the women’s side, they don’t have a choice. You have to be 22 years old the year of the draft and to also have no more years of eligibility in college or be willing of course to renounce your eligibility,” Duncan enunciated before recounting Watkins’ path to the Elite Eight.

Furthermore, Duncan added that Watkins helped the Trojans to the Elite Eight, and next her teaming up with Kiki Iriafen during the upcoming season is bound to get more fan following.

“And they’re going to be amazing. But it doesn’t matter how good her year is. She ain’t coming out this year. She going to have a few more. I think JuJu’s 19 years old. She got three more years of this which I honestly believe is also why so much of the juice the energy the talk the buzz is around the women’s side as opposed to the men’s because you really can build an investment with these women because you see them for three and in many cases four sometimes five years,” Duncan added.

And hence Duncan predicts that the point guard will be able to make complete use of a mandated NCAA rule. According to the NCAA rule, women basketball players have to be 22 years old in the year when the draft takes place. They have to complete their college eligibility or renounce it. But the rule is different for male basketball athletes who can declare for the draft at the age of 19. Hence, according to Duncan, Watkins still has a few years to go in the NCAA, and her spectacular balling skills can help the women’s college league get more fan following than the men’s college circuit.

Watkins committed to the Trojans during the 2023 season and averaged 27.3 points with 7.3 rebounds per game. Her gameplay made her a contender for Caitlin Clark’s AP Player of the Year award. Though the Hawkeyes’ sensation ultimately clinched her second consecutive Player of the Year award, Watkins coming close to her was considered a big achievement, considering she was just a freshman.

One example of Watkins’ fan following was when a whopping 1.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the Trojans bag the Pac-12 tournament title. Meanwhile, Watkins’ popularity has already started reflecting in her contracts.

JuJu Watkins signs a host of deals

Watkins has an NIL value of $576K and she occupies sixth place among women’s basketball stars. She has amassed 1.2 million followers on her social media platforms, and inked agreements with Estee Lauder, AT&T, RITZ Crackers, and Celsius among others. Furthermore, she also has deals with Gatorade, which in the W’s earlier days, would have been rewarded only to those athletes who perform exceptionally well at the highest level.

Going ahead of her 2022 Nike deal, the California-born extended her contract with the sporting giants recently. As per reports, she got ‘One Of The Richest Shoe Endorsement Deals In Women’s Basketball.’ Thus, she earned herself something that the former NCAA Queen got after reaching the WNBA. Seemingly, Watkins is already setting herself apart.

It will be interesting to see how Watkins markets herself from here on, and how she helps the Trojans reach a high in the next few years. Hopefully, she will be as popular, if not more, as Clark.