We are a couple of months away from the 2024-2025 NCAA season. That said, all eyes won't be on the defending champions, South Carolina, but will mostly be on USC and the biggest prospect in women's basketball right now, JuJu Watkins .
New season's expectations
Things are looking up for USC's women's basketball team, and it's all thanks to their star guard, Watkins. The standout freshman took Division I by storm last season, putting up an impressive average of 27.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She helped the Trojans to a fantastic 29-6 record and a deep run to the Elite Eight.
The Trojans, not resting on their laurels, signed Kiki Iriafen, another prospect from Stanford, after a breakout junior year. Her addition to the team is expected to bring even more firepower and excitement to USC's lineup.
It has already captured the eyes and ears of NBA superstars, Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan , who recently shared his thoughts on the expectations for USC during an episode of "Podcast P with Paul George."
"I think she'll have even a better season because they are going to have an even better team," DeRozan said of JuJu. "An even scarier team because they got the girl from Stanford, Kiki. … She tough, so they got a whole squad, and I got them winning it all, and that's not just me being biased."
Last season at Stanford, Iriafen averaged 19.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, leading the Cardinals to a strong 30-6 finish and a Sweet 16 appearance. She earned the title of Pac-12's Most Improved Player and a spot on the All-Pac-12 team. With one year left of eligibility, Kiki is projected as a lottery pick for the 2025 WNBA Draft, and USC will hope to get the most out of her in her senior year.
Iriafen was unstoppable in Stanford's thrilling 87-81 overtime win against Iowa State in the postseason second round. She nailed mid-range jumpers, drove hard to the hoop, and even swatted a shot with 14 seconds left. The forward hit all nine of her free throws and went 16-for-30 from the floor to help the Cardinals secure the win and advance to the Sweet 16.
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A powerhouse USC squad
USC will be led by Watkins, who, last season, broke the record for most points scored by a freshman in NCAA Division I history, surpassing Tina Hutchinson of San Diego State's 1983-84 record with a season total of 920, becoming the first freshman to cross the 900-point mark.
Unfortunately, the Trojans could only make it as far as the Elite Eight. Still, they will look to take a step further with the addition of Iriafen and also Talia Von Oelhoffen from Oregon State—another All-Pac-12 guard—to round out their star-studded lineup.
USC is assembling a powerhouse squad. For the first time in the program's history, they can be considered a championship contender.
Related: "His cadence, his pace. It's remarkable" - JuJu Watkins explains why she models her game after Paul George
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