SPORT NEWS: Report Indicates JuJu Watkins and Nike Have Agreed to a New Contract, Ranking Among the Largest in Women’s Basketball History and Setting New Standards for Female Athletes .giang

USC guard JuJu Watkins is already one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball as she enters her sophomore season, and she reportedly added another piece to her impressive resume on Tuesday.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 19-year-old agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Nike that will give her one of the richest shoe deals in women’s basketball history.

Charania reported that negotiations for Watkins’ deal with Nike were led by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and Watkins’ team, including agent Jade-Li English, head of marketing Eric Eways and vice president of basketball marketing Brittany McCallum, with Nike officials closing discussions on the deal on Tuesday.

She originally signed with Nike in October 2022 as a high school senior. The decision proved fruitful, as she put forth a star-making season in her freshman year with the Trojans.

Watkins led USC to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, the farthest the program has reached in 30 years. She scored a total of 920 points last season, setting a new record for the most points scored by a freshman in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history. San Diego State’s Tina Hutchinson had held the record since scoring 898 points in the 1983-84 season.

For her efforts, Watkins was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and won Best Breakthrough Athlete at the 2024 ESPYs. She was voted as the Associated Press’ Preseason Player of the Year entering the 2024-25 campaign.

Watkins’ new deal with Nike will only further add to her star power as she continues her development into a future face of the WNBA.