JuJu Watkins Struggles to Catch Caitlin Clark's Shadow Despite Massive NIL Deal with $134.8 Billion Company
With Caitlin Clark now lighting up the WNBA, the door is wide open for rising stars in college basketball to step up and seize the spotlight. JuJu Watkins, a promising USC sophomore, is often talked about as a natural successor to Clark. And, if we’re going by stats alone, Watkins is certainly on the right path. But in the world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals—a realm where Caitlin Clark has already become a legend—JuJu Watkins still has some ground to cover, even with her shiny new deal. So, who’s really leading this new wave of women’s basketball?
Caitlin’s NIL Shadow Looms Large
JuJu Watkins recently inked a major endorsement deal with State Farm, making her only the second college athlete to do so after Caitlin Clark. The insurance giant, with an impressive net worth of $134 billion as of February, seems eager to expand its footprint into college hoops. But when it comes to NIL deals, Caitlin Clark’s partnership with Goldman Sachs still reigns supreme. In 2023, the WNBA Rookie of the Year appeared in a Goldman Sachs lobbying campaign to reauthorize the Small Business Administration. Goldman Sachs, valued at over $160 billion, made its partnership with Clark a big deal—literally and figuratively.
Both Watkins and Clark share a partnership with Nike, but it’s clear that Clark has used her connections to jump ahead in the NIL world. State Farm may be big, but Caitlin’s ties to a financial titan like Goldman Sachs give her the edge.
Watkins’ NIL influence, however, is far from dim. Her partnership with State Farm comes with some cool perks—for instance, an upcoming documentary titled “On the Rise: JuJu Watkins,” presented by LeBron James’ UNINTERRUPTED and 4.4.Fourty Media. It’s a significant move, and something even Caitlin Clark hasn’t experienced yet.
No Pressure, No Comparisons: Watkins Carves Her Own Path
The rivalry narrative writes itself: JuJu Watkins vs. Caitlin Clark, a natural heir to the most famous name in women’s college basketball. But ask Watkins, and you’ll get a different response entirely. The young USC star remains focused on her own journey, refusing to let outside comparisons shape her game.
In a recent interview with Athlon Sports, Watkins made her stance crystal clear: “I just do my best to be myself and play my way. I don’t really think too much about the comparisons or the pressure… I just go out there, try to have fun, do what I do, and continue to work hard. That’s my mentality always.”
With Paige Bueckers and other rising talents also vying for the top spot in college hoops, Watkins knows that true success is about staying true to yourself, no matter how tempting it is to play the comparison game.
Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins: Different Journeys, Same Goals
It’s easy to get lost in the hype surrounding the NIL era. Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins have each carved out impressive paths, albeit at different stages of their careers. Where Clark has already won over the WNBA crowd, Watkins is just starting to build her own legacy, one play at a time.
While some may point to NIL figures, documentaries, or brand deals as a way of declaring a winner, one thing is certain: these two stars are part of a revolution in women’s basketball. Each is making history, on and off the court, and the best part? They’re just getting started.
