University Southern California Trojans
October 22, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Watkins earns Preseason AP All-America honors for the second time in her career.
LOS ANGELES – USC senior guard JuJu Watkins was named a Preseason Associated Press All-American, the publication announced Thursday, October 22.
The selection marks Watkins' second AP Preseason All-America honor, following her recognition ahead of the 2024-25 season. Watkins was selected alongside UConn's Sarah Strong, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Texas' Madison Booker and Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes.
Watkins was also named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and selected to the coaches' and media Preseason All-Big Ten teams ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Los Angeles native returns to the court after missing the 2025-26 season due to injury. In her most recent season of competition, Watkins swept the nation's top individual honors, winning the Naismith Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year award and AP National Player of the Year award following a standout 2024-25 campaign.
Watkins averaged 24.6 points per game and was a unanimous AP All-America First Team selection that season, joining Courtney Paris and Maya Moore as the only players in history to earn first-team honors as both freshmen and sophomores. She also averaged 3.4 assists, 2.18 steals and 1.76 blocks per game and enters the 2026-27 season ranked ninth in career scoring at USC with 1,709 points.
Following the 2024-25 season, Watkins was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors that same season.
The No. 3 Women of Troy open the 2026-27 season on Sunday, Oct. 25, hosting Cal for the First Look Women's Basketball Exhibition presented by State Farm. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PT at the Galen Center.
The selection marks Watkins' second AP Preseason All-America honor, following her recognition ahead of the 2024-25 season. Watkins was selected alongside UConn's Sarah Strong, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Texas' Madison Booker and Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes.
Watkins was also named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and selected to the coaches' and media Preseason All-Big Ten teams ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Los Angeles native returns to the court after missing the 2025-26 season due to injury. In her most recent season of competition, Watkins swept the nation's top individual honors, winning the Naismith Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year award and AP National Player of the Year award following a standout 2024-25 campaign.
Watkins averaged 24.6 points per game and was a unanimous AP All-America First Team selection that season, joining Courtney Paris and Maya Moore as the only players in history to earn first-team honors as both freshmen and sophomores. She also averaged 3.4 assists, 2.18 steals and 1.76 blocks per game and enters the 2026-27 season ranked ninth in career scoring at USC with 1,709 points.
Following the 2024-25 season, Watkins was named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors that same season.
The No. 3 Women of Troy open the 2026-27 season on Sunday, Oct. 25, hosting Cal for the First Look Women's Basketball Exhibition presented by State Farm. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PT at the Galen Center.
Players Mentioned
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