Juju Watkins: The College Basketball Star Building a ₹100+ Crore Net Worth

Juju Watkins is the 19-year-old basketball sensation taking the NCAA by storm. The USC Trojan guard, often called the “next Kobe Bryant” of women’s basketball, has already broken scoring records, won gold medals, and signed historic endorsement deals. In 2025, her net worth is estimated at $12 million (₹100 crore) – and she hasn’t even entered the WNBA yet! Let’s explore how she’s building her fortune.

Early Life: From Los Angeles to College Stardom

Born in 2005 in Los Angeles, Juju grew up idolizing legends like Kobe Bryant. By age 17, she’d already:

• Scored 60 points in a high school championship game (breaking California records)
• Won two gold medals with Team USA’s U16 and U17 teams
• Turned down offers from Stanford and South Carolina to join USC

Her freshman year at USC made headlines globally. She averaged 27.1 points per game – the second-highest in NCAA history for a freshman – and led her team to the Elite Eight (Wikipedia).

How Juju Earns ₹100 Crore in 2025

1. Nike’s Mega Deal

In 2024, Juju signed a $10 million (₹83 crore) contract with Nike, making it one of the richest shoe deals in women’s basketball history. Her signature shoe line is set to launch in 2026 (Charania/ESPN).

2. WNBA Draft Hype

Though she’s still in college, experts predict Juju will be the #1 pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft. Top teams like the Golden State Valkyries are already eyeing her – their fans have deposited 17,000+ season tickets hoping to draft her (Golden State Valkyries).

3. Business Ventures

• Unrivaled Ownership: Juju joined the ownership group of Unrivaled, a new women’s sports league (Unrivaled).
• Merchandise: Her USC jerseys are top sellers, with 20% profits going to her.

Record-Breaking Moments

Juju isn’t just rich – she’s rewriting history:

• 51 points vs Stanford (2024): Highest by any NCAA freshman since 2010.
• 38 points vs #1 UCLA (2025): Led USC to its first win over a top-ranked team since 1983 (AP News).
• 920 freshman points: Broke a 40-year-old NCAA record.

What’s Next for Juju?

2027 WNBA Draft

Analysts say Juju could earn ₹6-8 crore/year as a rookie – 10x the current average salary.

Endorsement Growth

With her “Kobe-like” playstyle and charisma, brands like Gatorade and Beats by Dre are lining up. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb says:
“Comparisons to legends limit her – Juju is creating her own legacy.”

Fun Facts for Students

1. Nickname: “JuJu” comes from her childhood love of dancing to “Jumpin’ JuJu” songs.
2. Hobbies: Plays chess and designs sneakers in free time.
3. Role Model: Mentored by Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Why Juju’s Story Matters

Juju teaches us:

1. Start Early: She began training at age 5!
2. Turn Pressure into Power: Used criticism over early shooting slumps to improve her 3-point game.
3. Invest in Yourself: Joined business ventures while still in college.

As she told Sporting News: “I want to be the reason girls in India pick up a basketball.”