JuJu Watkins is already thinking about how special it would be to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics in his hometown of Los Angeles.
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By Doug Feinberg AP Basketball Writer
June 26, 2024 1:47 AM
• 3 min read
NEW YORK — JuJu Watkins is already thinking about how special it would be to play for the United States in the 2028 Olympics in his hometown of Los Angeles.
“That’s definitely my long-term goal once I graduate from college,” Watkins said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. “It’s something I’m really looking forward to and having the opportunity to do it in my city would definitely be a dream come true.”
For now, Watkins is focused on the present and enjoying the summer before his sophomore year at USC. The former AP First Team All-American has been busy the past few days.
She threw out the first pitch at the Dodgers game on Saturday, then flew across the country to New York for a Meta AI event with Chance the Rapper on Tuesday night.
“That was pretty awesome, a dream come true,” she said of pitching. “I grew up a Dodgers fan, so it was really cool to get on the mound and pitch. It was like a half-court shot, and it was pretty far.”
Although Watkins is calm on the court, he admitted he gets nervous on the mound.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure. It’s in the top five most nerve-wracking moments for me. As long as the ball didn’t bounce I was OK,” she said.
There was nothing to worry about as her pitch reached home plate with ease.
Watkins has become a national star in women’s basketball. She averaged 27.1 points and had her best season in years, leading USC to the Elite Eight. Her games have drawn large crowds, including many celebrities, and have become must-see events at USC.
She’s well-known in Los Angeles, and after Sparks home games she is often mobbed by fans asking for photos and autographs.
“LA is definitely more laid back than other places. I think it’s cool to be recognized in public,” she says. “It’s funny in a way, so sometimes my friends and I all laugh about it, but I always enjoy it. Sometimes I think it’s a bit too much, but I’m grateful.”
Watkins said what was special was when she first met Caitlin Clark, who offered to help her if she needed advice on how to be the face of women’s basketball.
“She’s amazing. It just goes to show what a great person she is outside of basketball,” Watkins said. “To have this kind of mentorship from her and to have this kind of relationship with her definitely means a lot. She’s had the biggest impact on women’s basketball and it’s really inspiring to watch her journey.”
Watkins said her generation of female basketball players has benefited greatly from social media and believes AI will be the next step in helping people learn more about their favorite players. This summer, Meta will launch a new initiative called “Superfans” to help fans learn about their favorite athletes, sports and trends.
“I think[social media]will initially grab people’s attention – they want to know more about her, how she trains,” Watkins said. “There will be a lot of questions and Meta AI can be used to provide answers. What you see a lot on social media is facts not opinion. There’s a lot of opinion not fact. That’s where Meta AI comes in to educate people. It builds a bridge between the fans and the athletes and bridges the gap.”
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https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball