Caitlin Clark has undeniably enjoyed one of the most spectacular college basketball careers, setting records left and right before heading to the pros. And you’d think her NCAA legacy would remain untouched, right? But that might not be the case anymore. While Paige Bueckers often gets compared to CC, it turns out it’s JuJu Watkins who’s putting up the kind of numbers that could actually challenge Clark’s dominance.

The USC Trojans sophomore just hit a monumental milestone, becoming the fastest Power 4 player to score 1,000 career points. It took her just 38 games to reach this feat—faster than even the former Iowa sharpshooter, who took 40 games, and Bueckers, who took 55. 

To put it into perspective, Watkins is now part of an elite group that includes NCAA legends from as far back as the 1970s and ’80s. She scored 22 points alongside 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals in USC’s blowout win over Santa Clara.

After breaking through last season as a freshman sensation, she’s only getting better. Despite it all, she remains incredibly humble. She called the achievement a “blessing” and made sure to credit her teammates for helping her succeed. Her coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, couldn’t hold back her praise, either. 

“It’s always worth noting when you break a record at USC,” Gottlieb said, referencing the school’s rich history of producing basketball legends. “JuJu belongs in that conversation. She’s four games into her sophomore year, and she’s already accomplished something incredible.” But there might be more for her to achieve.

The Indiana Fever star, the NCAA’s current all-time leading scorer, surpassed Pete Maravich’s historic record with an eye-popping 3,685 career points. On the other hand, Huskies star Paige Bueckers, however, is at 1,683 points in 85 games. She is far from breaking the 2024 WNBA ROTY’s record but has a shot at becoming UConn’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Maya Moore.

Coming back to Watkins, can the Trojans star put up more numbers than CC? We don’t know yet, but we do know that even Clark herself has acknowledged Watkins’ potential.

Caitlin Clark predicts JuJu Watkins will take over the spotlight after her

On an episode of A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, Watkins reflected on how Clark had predicted her rise. Rapinoe shared that Clark once told Watkins’ coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, “I’ve had the attention for a year and a half—two years. Now, JuJu, you’re gonna have it for the next three.”

The 19-year-old star, in her typically grounded manner, expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying, “It’s really just a dream come true.” But she remained focused on her goals. “My main goal is to just win. I just want a championship regardless of everything else,” she said. 

Also, previously, when reporters pressed her about being the “next Caitlin Clark,” Watkins gracefully shut it down with, “Ah nah, don’t do that. Much respect there.” It’s this humility that sets her apart. Sure, she’s breaking records and turning heads, but she’s doing it with an attitude that screams team-first.