“I don’t really think about that kind of stuff. I think I just keep a positive mentality, always trying to get better, and be humble.” Juju Watkins said earlier this year when asked about being compared to All-Time Greats. At 19 years old, the sophomore is making a mark in her college run. She recently added to her list by scoring a program-high 40 points, during a matchup against the California Baptist. Despite getting closer to an ‘All-Time Great’ status, Watkins’s coach herself decided to take a leaf out of her player’s book. How? By taking a humble approach when acknowledging the player’s feat.

During the post-game presser, with the 19-year-old sitting beside her, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb went on to state “obviously, what a night from the three-point line, but I loved it. Just like it felt so joyous. They were all in rhythm. You know, we know how well she can shoot the ball, and just for her to see them go down like that is fun. But I thought the energy of the team was really the winner.” Watkins may have come out as the game’s MVP, but Gottlieb was still there to remind everyone that the win, as a whole, was a team effort.

JuJu Watkins’s 40-point barrage was no small moment. The 9 3-pointers she shot to get there are the most made by any player on USC’s women’s team. She fell shy of the 10 far-away shots record held by the USC’s men’s team. However, this was nevertheless a remarkable achievement. After all, making only 5 points during the 1 quarter, the 19-year-old may have wanted to kick things up a notch.

This feat came in just as Watkins reached the 1,000 career points mark in just 38 games — fourth-fewest in NCAA Division I. Sure Watkins built on her elite player status today, but Gottlieb wasn’t far off in noting it a team effort in the win against California Baptist.

While Watkins made 40, Kiki Irafen followed behind with her 18 points and a jaw-dropping 10 rebounds. Talia von Oelhoffen also did her part to enhance the overall total. She utilized her 25 minutes on the court to drop 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists. All of this summed up to a dominant 94-52 score. This was the USC Trojans’ 3rd consecutive victory and 7th overall.

Gottlieb may have chosen to give credit to the whole team this time around. However, this does not mean that she still doesn’t hold Watkins in high regard. In fact, the head coach has aspirations for the player that go beyond simply playing pro.

Lindsey Gottlieb wants Juju Watkins to own a team: “I’m a crazy kind of thinker”

A few weeks ago, Lindsey Gottlieb sat down for an interview with The Los Angeles Times. Highlighting the bond she shares with Juju Watkins, the HC let out a few details of the dynamic.

“I would say my instinct with JuJu is to do as much as I can to allow her to be happy and fulfilled as a young person and to be as successful as possible. I want to get out of her way and let her be the artist, creative basketball player she is.” However, those are just the hopes she holds when it comes to Watkins tenure as a player. Gottlieb has taken things a step ahead and even started thinking about what her player should do post the WNBA.

“I’m a crazy kind of thinker, too,” said Gottlieb. “I want [JuJu] to own something one day. Not just play in the WNBA – own a team.”

A former WNBA player having an ownership stake in a team isn’t anything new. It was only earlier this year when WNBA legend Sue Bird joined the ownership group of the Seattle Storm. It is the same team to whom she had devoted 20 years of her league career to. Prior to that, Renee Montgomery became part of a three-member investor group that acquired the Atlanta Dream from former US Senator Kelly Loeffler.  Loeffler’s reportedly controversial political stances had made her an unpopular figure with her own players. This gave Montgomery an opening.

Therefore, if all those former players can do it, then so can Watkins. However, she has to first make a name for herself in the WNBA. If she continues playing with the same energy, then that goal won’t be too far from her reach.