JuJu Watkins’ defense makes USC so hard to beat 

But Watkins’ defense might just be the difference maker for USC, especially in March. Watkins is a finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, which has been won by a guard just once since 2018 (DiDi Richards in 2020). 

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While Watkins is averaging 2.2 steals and 1.9 blocks per game as a guard, that doesn’t come close to telling the whole story. Her defensive impact in big games has been the difference maker for the Trojans. In the Trojans’ upset of their crosstown rival UCLA Bruins on Feb. 13, Watkins notched eight blocked shots — many of them resulting from her weak side double-teams on the Bruins’ 6’7 center Lauren Betts. In a game where Betts’ lack of touches arguably made all the difference for the Trojans down the stretch, Watkins’ athleticism and ability to be, from a viewer’s perspective, everywhere at once, made all the difference in stymieing UCLA’s star center.

When asked about her defensive effort against her crosstown rival, Watkins credited her defensive strength to her competitive spirit, telling reporters: “Whatever it takes to win, honestly. I didn’t plan on having that many blocks, but that’s what we needed to win.”

Watkins ranks fourth in the Big Ten in blocks per game with 1.7, and fifth in steals with 2.1 — a remarkable combination given her defensive assignments. She’s only had one game without a steal this season, in a 79-37 rout of Purdue. And she’s done all of this while reducing her foul count from 3.3 per game last season to 2.6 this year. Combined with her length, strength, and quickness, her discipline on the defensive end is deadly for opposing teams.

Even further, having the option to use Watkins in combination with Kennedy Smith, a freshman that coach Lindsay Gottlieb has credited as the most college-ready defender and one of the best on-ball defenders she’s worked with, is huge. While Smith guards the ball and makes entry passes difficult, Watkins can float, doubling where necessary, and using her versatility to her advantage. Watkins makes things difficult for players ranging from point guard to center.

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Watkins also boasts a defensive win share of 2.3, putting her at sixth in the nation. Defensive win shares approximate the number of total wins a player produces for their team through defensive plays. According to the press release from USC announcing her Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinal status, she is the first Division I collegiate, WNBA or NBA player since 2000 to score 38 points, 11 rebounds, eight blocks and five assists in a single game — the same eight block game against UCLA in February.

“Anything I can do to contribute I’m going to do,” Watkins said. “It’s not really a calculated thing. It’s just a feel for the game, I just kind of let my mind take over.”

The answer is that simple: she wants to win.