USC's JuJu Watkins, Nike reportedly reach agreement on lucrative endorsement deal extension
Watkins signed on with Nike in 2022 while a senior in high school
USC star JuJu Watkins and Nike have reportedly worked out a historic multiyear extension as part of an endorsement deal.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Watkins and Nike agreed to "one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women's basketball." Terms were not announced.
Watkins first signed with Nike in October 2022 while a senior in high school. She was part of a group of student athletes that were "paving the way for the next generation on and off the court." That group included Caitlin Clark, Bronny James, Haley Jones and DJ Wagner.
In her first season with USC, Watkins set the NCAA Division I women's freshman scoring record with 920 points — a record that had stood since 1983-84. She also passed Lisa Leslie for the school record for points by a freshman in a debut with 32 during a win over No. 7 Ohio State in November.
In February, Watkins scored 51 points during a win over No. 4 Stanford, which was the first 50-point game by a Division I freshman since Elena Delle Donne did it in 2010.
Watkins' impressive first year saw her help lead the Trojans to the Elite Eight, the school's best performance in the NCAA tournament in 30 years, and she finished behind player of the year Caitlin Clark in scoring with 27.1 points per game. She was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and made the All-Pac-12 team along with All-Defensive Team honors.