JuJu Watkins discusses USC women's basketball's No. 1 seed in March Madness, more
It's officially official. JuJu Watkins is going dancing.
Watkins and USC women's basketball were tabbed as the No. 1 seed in the Spokane 2 Regional as the No. 3 overall seed in the women's 2025 NCAA Tournament on Sunday. It's the 19th appearance in the women's NCAA Tournament for the Trojans, and also the first time the Trojans were given a No. 1 seed in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1980s.
The Trojans enter the women's NCAA Tournament with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, as they are coming off a heartbreaking 72-67 loss to No. 1 UCLA in the Big Ten tournament championship game on Sunday, March 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
USC will get its March Madness run underway on Saturday, March 22 against No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro. A win against the Spartans would advance USC to the second round, where it would face either former Pac-12 foe Cal or Mississippi State.
Here's everything Watkins said Sunday after the Selection Sunday show:
JuJu Watkins on USC women's basketball earning No. 1 seed
When asked for her overall thoughts on the Trojans receiving a No. 1 seed in the women's NCAA Tournament, Watkins said it is the expectation for the program.
"That's the expectation. I think we know what we're capable of. It's just a matter of knowing who's next and tackling that day-by-day," Watkins said Sunday at USC's Selection Sunday news conference. Sunday marked the second straight season that the Trojans will be a No. 1 seed in the field of 68 under Lindsay Gottlieb, and the sixth time in program history that USC is a 1 seed.
Watkins also spoke to those around the country believing USC is inexperienced heading into the tournament.
"People have their own opinion and you can't really take that much into consideration. It's a testament to what we are building and it's going to take time," Watkins said. "Every year I think the goal is to break others' opinions."
How JuJu Watkins is approaching second March Madness berth
The 2025 women's NCAA Tournament is the second go-around for Watkins, after USC made the Big Dance last year in her freshman season.
In four games last season in the women's NCAA Tournament, Watkins averaged 27.5 points per game with 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals while shooting 37% from the field.
So how is Watkins using that experience to prepare mentally for this year's tournament? Here's what she said:
"Just continuing to stay locked in. The season's super long and the plan is to go even longer than last year, (that's) for sure," Watkins said. "Just staying locked in and taking it game-by-game. That's all you can do."
Why JuJu Watkins thinks USC can make deep March Madness run
Asked why she believes USC can make a deep run in March and play for a national championship, Watkins pointed to the adversity the Trojans have overcome throughout the season.
"The trials and tribulations we've been through. This season has not been pretty. There were moments where we could have kind of given up and we didn't. Think that speaks to our resilience and just our will to want to win and play together," Watkins said.
USC entered Selection Sunday with the fourth-best odds (+525) of cutting down the nets, as previously noted by USA TODAY.
Watkins also spoke to the way USC has been able to flush a loss this past season, like its loss in the Big Ten title game vs. UCLA, and how that mindset could help contribute to the Trojans' hopeful long March Madness run.
Following each of its two regular season losses to then-No. 6 in November and Iowa in February, USC went on to have win streaks of 15 (which doesn't include the forfeit win vs. Northwestern) and nine games, respectively. To win the national championship, the Trojans, of course, have to win six consecutive games.
"It just gives us a chip on our shoulder. It was a battle (with UCLA). It was a good game and (there's) so much to go back to the drawing board and learn from," Watkins said. "We're not letting that hold us back.
"The goal is to continue to push forward. ... This is a brand-new season so we're just wiping the slate clean and we know what we need to do."
Watkins and USC will kick off their Road to the Final Four and Tampa, Florida on Saturday, March 22 against UNC Greensboro at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JuJu Watkins talks USC receiving No. 1 seed in March Madness, more
Topics
-
NCAA women's basketball tournament: Who were No. 1 seeds for March Madness?
Here's a look at which teams were selected as No. 1 seeds for the 2025 NCAA women's basketball tournament:Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Women's bracket winners, losers and the path ahead for JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers
UCLA is No. 1 overall seed, but USC and UConn are together in the same regional.ESPN - 8h -
USC's Watkins signs exclusive deal with Fanatics
USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins has signed an exclusive, multiyear deal with Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles, the first women's college athlete to sign such a deal.ESPN - 2d -
UCLA lands NCAA's No. 1 overall women's seed
UCLA, South Carolina and Texas, who all had a turn at No. 1 this season in the Associated Press poll, joined USC on Sunday as the top seeds in the women's NCAA basketball tournament, which will ...ESPN - 9h -
Women's college basketball rankings: UCLA returns to No. 1 after gutsy win over USC in Big Ten championship
After falling to JuJu Watkins and the Trojans twice this season, UCLA won when it mattered mostCBS Sports - 6d -
UCLA, South Carolina, USC, Texas earn No. 1 seeds in women's NCAA Tournament
UCLA is the top overall seed in the women's NCAA March Madness tournament.CBS News - 11h -
Texas Longhorns women's basketball awarded a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament
The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team has been named a No. 1 seed in the upcoming 2025 NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Bracketology for USC women's basketball before Selection Sunday
After falling to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, the Trojans should still be a No. 1 seed.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Big Ten Tournament: UCLA storms back from double-digit deficit, beats JuJu Watkins, USC in championship game
With the win, the Bruins are now the projected No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - Mar. 10
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball TV channel, streaming in NCAA Tournament
A look at TV channel and streaming information for the Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball in the NCAA Tournament first round.Yahoo Sports - 19m
More in Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 14m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him
From 40/70 to 40/30? The Braves' 2023 NL MVP is rehabbing with a plan to be stronger -- and healthier.ESPN - 17m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 18m