Juju Watkins is making NCAA history and the secret behind her iconic bun may help her sur Caitlin Clark's numbers

JuJu Watkins is blazing a trail at USC, and as the No. 2 Trojans (27-2) gear up for March Madness, expectations couldn't be higher. The 19-year-old sophomore has been on fire this season, averaging 27.7 points in her last six games and earning being the favorite to win National Player of the Year after torching UCLA for 30 points, five assists, three rebounds, three blocks and two steals in an 80-67 win. With a 26-2 regular-season record, USC is poised for a No. 1 seed, setting the stage for epic tournament matchups against the likes of UConn'sPaige Bueckers and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo.

Already a women's college basketball icon, Watkins is chasing Caitlin Clark's legacy - with 1,635 points, she's just 28 shy of ing Clark for the most points in a player's first two seasons, and has at least two games left this season. She also has two years left to potentially break Clark's NCAA scoring record of 3,951 points. If she keeps this pace, Watkins could not only claim a national title-something Clark never did-but redefine the history of the sport.

Mom's Secret: The Magic Behind JuJu's Iconic Bun

At USC's Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal win at Indiana today, JuJu Watkins' parents, including her mother, Sari, were on the sidelines, beaming with pride. When a reporter pressed Sari on the secret behind JuJu's signature bun - a hairstyle that has become as iconic as her sweater - she chuckled and dodged, "The secret of the bun is don't tell the secret of the bun." But the mother-daughter bond runs deep: Sari still styles JuJu's hair before every game, a ritual that underscores their closeness.

Speaking to the Herald, Sari raved about young girls emulating JuJu's look, calling it "the sweetest thing ever" and a sign of her daughter's inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere. A former college track star, Sari initially steered JuJu toward tennis like her older sisters, but pivoted when JuJu fell in love with basketball. That , paired with JuJu's drive, has fueled her rise - Sari's pride hints at the courage JuJu will need to face WNBA veterans like Clark and Angel Reese in the next years.

Watkins' March Madness Moment Looms Large

With March Madness on the horizon, Watkins and USC are ready to dominate. Her latest 31-point, 10-rebound masterpiece in an 84-79 quarterfinal win showcased her all-around brilliance - 10-for-19 shooting, three steals and two assists against tough competition. It's her seventh 30-point game of the season and 21st career outing with at least 30 points, the second-most in Trojan history. Last year, as a freshman, she led the Trojans to the Elite Eight; now, with the Big Ten spotlight amplifying her fame, she's eyeing a deeper run. If she continues to torch the net and avoid injury, Watkins could eclipse Clark's scoring output and claim the one crown Clark couldn't: a national championship. USC's depth - bolstered by players like Kiki Iriafen - pairs perfectly with JuJu's star power, setting up a tournament run that could cement her as the next queen of college hoops.

Watkins' journey mirrors Clark's in its scoring brilliance, but stands apart in its potential for a title. Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes dazzled with 140 three-pointers in a single season and her 3,951 points, but fell short of a championship, losing to LSU in 2023 and South Carolina in 2024. Watkins, who averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks as a freshman, reached 1,000 career points in just 38 games - faster than Clark's 40. With two years left, she's not just chasing Clark's numbers, she's rewriting them, with the goal of leading USC to March Madness glory. If she can harness her mother's wisdom, her mother's charm, and her own fire, Watkins might just sur her idol-and end her collegiate career with a trophy and a legacy all her own.