Is JuJu Watkins Coming for Caitlin Clark’s Throne?
Caitlin Clark has been the face of the WNBA since even before she stepped onto a professional court. Her debut season with the Indiana Fever turned every game into a must-watch event, sparking media frenzies and record viewership. But if Clark has the spotlight now, she might not have it all to herself for long.
Enter JuJu Watkins, the 2025 John R. Wooden Award winner and USC phenom. Despite being sidelined with a torn ACL, Watkins is already being recognized as one of the league’s next major stars. And possibly Clark’s biggest challenger for the WNBA throne.
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WNBA Players Already Believe in Watkins
A recent player poll by The Athletic asked WNBA players who they believed would be the face of the league in five years. Out of 39 votes, Clark came in first, but Watkins placed second, ahead of established names like Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson.
This is no fluke. Juju Watkins is more than hype. Before her injury during the NCAA Tournament, she was the nation’s fourth-leading scorer and swept nearly every major award in women’s college basketball. She’s expected to return to action late in the 2025–26 season and many are already circling her name as a game-changer.
WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark as the most likely to be the face of the league in 5 years pic.twitter.com/ZNLlI1h4ti
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) July 15, 2025
The Full Package On and Off the Court
Watkins’ star power isn’t confined to the hardwood. She became the first female athlete to sign with Klutch Sports Group. And her Nike NIL deal is among the most lucrative in college basketball. From her high school dominance to Team USA MVP honors at the 2021 FIBA U16 AmeriCup, Watkins has built a foundation that screams future superstar.
While Clark currently commands the headlines, the WNBA is clearly entering a new era. And the league’s future looks more like a shared spotlight than a solo stage. If Watkins lives up to the hype, we might be talking about a new rivalry built on respect, competition, and a rapidly evolving WNBA landscape.
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