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Dawn Staley has been making a lot of headlines lately, and it's not just because the 54-year-old was recently awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2024 ESPYS. Her recent comments on the Rookie Of The Year debate, where she expressed her preference for Angel Reese over Caitlin Clark, have certainly raised some eyebrows. But that's not all - Staley also had some intriguing predictions to share.
With Caitlin Clark's departure from the college basketball scene, the question on everyone's mind is who will step up to fill her shoes. When a TMZ Sports reporter caught up with Staley at the airport, he sought her insight on this matter.
Staley didn't hesitate to highlight some rising stars in the game, mentioning names like MiLaysia Fulwiley, JuJu, and Hannah Hidalgo, and expressing her confidence in the future of women's basketball.
Among the names Staley mentioned, JuJu Watkins seems to be emerging as a frontrunner in the Rookie Of The Year race. The 18-year-old had an impressive freshman season, coming in second only to Caitlin Clark. She managed to break numerous records, both for USC and college basketball as a whole. This included Cheryl Miller's 38-year-old single-season scoring record for the Trojans, as well as tying Miller's record of three consecutive 30-point games.
Watkins honored as USBWA National Freshman of the Year
"JuJu Watkins is making a name for herself in the game. She's been breaking records and showing incredible talent on the court," Staley said, clearly impressed by the young player's performance.
By the end of the season, JuJu had scored an astounding 920 points, suring Tina Hutchinson's previous NCAA Division I freshman record of 898 points set in 1983-84. This remarkable achievement earned her the 2024 USBWA National Freshman of the Year honor, and she was recently chosen as the ESPYS Best Breakthrough Athlete.
It seems that JuJu Watkins is well on her way to becoming a household name in women's basketball. She's proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with, and with the and praise from coaches like Dawn Staley, her star is only set to continue rising.