HARTFORD, Conn. — In a highly anticipated showdown, JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers exhibited their remarkable talent on the court, highlighting a thrilling evening of women’s basketball. Watkins led the No. 7 USC Trojans to a narrow 72-70 win over the fourth-ranked UConn Huskies, securing a significant victory in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,684 at the arena.
Watkins expressed excitement over the large audience, noting that it was possibly the biggest crowd she had ever played in front of. “I think it’s a testament to when you give women’s basketball a platform, we’re going to perform,” she said after an impressive performance that saw her score 25 points. “Tonight was an excellent game… It was beautiful to be a part of and I can imagine watching it being super exciting.”
While the win in the regular season was meaningful for USC, Watkins acknowledged that it did not completely alleviate the disappointment from last year’s Elite Eight loss, which ultimately ended their season. “It was an Elite Eight game, clearly it weighs differently,” the sophomore star reflected. “Last year it meant a little bit more. Avenging that was important.”
Throughout the game, both All-American players took turns defending one another, creating thrilling moments. A standout instance in the third quarter had Watkins blocking a shot from Bueckers, then proceeding to take the ball down the court and elegantly score after dribbling between her legs. The duel between these two stars provided excitement for both players and fans alike.
“Definitely, playing against great players, you embrace the matchup and have fun in the moment,” said Bueckers, who finished the game with 22 points. “Both teams were trying to win. Matchups like these are why we play basketball.” Bueckers also emphasized the importance of such high-profile games for the sport’s growth. “It’s very important for the game to continue to grow and have these types of matchups,” she remarked. “For people to not shy away from it and to embrace it and schedule more opponents like these.”
UConn’s veteran coach Geno Auriemma reflected on the significance of the game and the caliber of talent on display. Auriemma, whose career spans over 40 years, felt the atmosphere of the matchup was truly special. “Happy that we can put two players like that on the floor that the whole country is familiar with and wants to see play well,” he noted. “Both have their unique styles of playing.”
He also reminisced about the early days of the program, where attendance was minimal. “I was driving in today to the game and it brought back to me the very first game we played here in ‘86 or ’87… I don’t think there were 100 people in the building,” he recalled. “To drive up here and know there would be 16,000 people here plus the game on national television doesn’t seem like we’re talking about the same universe. But this is what happened and where we are today. I’m proud to be a part of it.”