After Caitlin Clark’s departure, the onus of popularizing the NCAA and maintaining the previous viewership standards now rests on the UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers and USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins. While Bueckers will be playing her last season for the Huskies and having a final go at the Championship title, Watkins is considered the next big thing in the NCAA as last year she was a contender for the NPOY award. With all these responsibilities already looming, Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier has burdened them all the more with her new statement.

On Monday’s episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Collier was asked about her take on the leading ladies of the NCAA- Bueckers, and Watkins, and how their future looks like in the W. Collier’s statements showed the in-depth understanding she has of the athletes.

“Yeah, I think it’s so bright. Like just even the two that you mentioned are so fun to watch. Like just really great talents. So bringing that obviously is just going to improve the product more and more. And then, also, like again, it was such an explosion this year… of like a cult following of these new rookies. And they, those two specifically, have the same thing. So, bringing more eyes and even more viewership to the W, growing the game in that way. But I think those, I think both of them are generational talents, honestly. So the, the talent that they’re going to bring to the W is going to be super fun to watch,” Collier stated on the podcast.

Bueckers had already won the NPOY award during her freshman year, becoming the first one to do so. Last year, she was projected in the top 3 picks in the WNBA draft, and going forward this season, she is expected to be drafted at the numero uno position in the W. Plus, in the absence of Nika Muhl, she is already expected to lead the Huskies to their first title since 2016. While fans think it might be easy for Bueckers, UConn Insider Mark Zanetto has already revealed that the 23-year-old is not a vocal player and, hence, will find it difficult to manage a leadership role.

As for Watkins, she is expected to take up the role that Clark did for her team in the long term. Even though the exhibition games are on their way and the regular season is yet to begin, many of her fans are already considering her a contender for the NPOY this year. Thus, the two rivals are already considered the face of women’s basketball in the NCAA, and with Collier tagging them as generational players, it puts more responsibility on their lap. Meanwhile, Bueckers has already been drafted in Collier’s Unrivaled.

Napheesa Collier already considered Paige Bueckers for Unrivaled

In August, it was reported that Bueckers would be joining Unrivaled, becoming the first NCAA player to do so. Much like other stars, Bueckers will be getting a 6 figure salary along with equity in the league. However, the Minnesota-born will take part in the league once her NCAA career ends. Going by Unrivaled’s schedule, that might be in their second season.

“Blessed and grateful to be a part of this amazing league. To take an active role in the growth of women’s sports is a dream come true. Excited for the future, it’s just the beginning! 🔥,” said the 23-year-old. While Clark looks to be wary of the league at the moment, Bueckers welcomed the announcement with open arms and enthusiasm. Maybe that’s what makes for a perfect joinee.

And now with Collier’s latest statement, the pressure on both Bueckers and Watkins would be much. Hence, fans would be hoping that the two tackle it in effective ways and come out on top as is expected of them.