Picture this: A star quarterback, fresh off shattering the NFL rookie rushing record (891 yds, 6 TDs, Washington Commanders fans still buzzing), slides into a courtside seat next to college basketball’s reigning AP Player of the Year. Not at some glitzy awards show, but amidst the raw energy of March Madness. The cameras catch it, the internet explodes, and just like a perfectly thrown Hail Mary before halftime, speculation soars. Fast forward months later, that same QB is filmed walking out of her birthday bash.
Cue the collective gasp from the sports world’s gossip hounds. Are Jayden Daniels and JuJu Watkins the NFL/WNBA’s next power couple? Buckle up, because JuJu’s playing this one closer to the vest than a Cover 2 defense.
TMZ caught up with Watkins, the 6′2″ scoring machine averaging a cool 23.9 PPG last season, at LAX this week. Fresh off celebrating her 20th birthday (July 15th!), the focus was rightly on her ACL rehab journey first. ‘Always leave it out on the court!’ she declared, her competitive fire unmistakable. Music to Trojans’ ears
If #JuJuWatkins and #JaydenDaniels are indeed an item, the USC hooper isn’t kissing and telling … giving #TMZSports the cold shoulder on Thursday.#Exclusive story at the HERE: https://t.co/14fFvgWDnB pic.twitter.com/HYKsZbN8jf
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 17, 2025
. But then came the question – the one about her connection with the Heisman-turned-NFL Rookie of the Year. TMZ’s camera guy lobbed it soft: “What about those Jayden Daniels dating rumors?” The response? A masterclass in evasion. JuJu offered nothing but silence and a knowing smile, letting the moment hang like a perfectly arced three-pointer at the buzzer.
It was the kind of non-denial denial that would make Homer Simpson proud: “Just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.” Except here, understanding remains elusive.
This sideline saga started back on March 22, 2025. Daniels, already flashing the dual-threat magic (3,568 pass yds, 25 TDs, 69 % comp) that would define his stellar rookie campaign, showed up courtside at the Galen Center. He watched JuJu dismantle UNC Greensboro in the NCAA tourney (22 pts, 8 reb in a 71–25 rout), then stayed, ending up seated beside her during the next game. The image was electric – two SoCal-bred Nike athletes (Watkins from Watts, Daniels from San Bernardino), one from the gridiron, one from the hardwood, sharing laughs. Then came the viral subplot: Regina Jackson, slid into the seat between them. Cue the memes and frantic online searches wondering if they were cousins. Spoiler: Zero credible sources found any familial link. This was pure, unadulterated sideline vibes, amplified by Mama Daniels’ now-infamous protective presence.
The plot thickened just this week. A video surfaced showing Daniels walking out of Watkins’ 20th birthday celebration alongside the birthday girl herself. No words exchanged on camera, just proximity and timing speaking volumes. Naturally, Regina Jackson was spotted in the mix again, fueling another wave of fan chatter. Social media erupted: ‘Bro escaped from his mom’s grip, she prolly made him wear a wire ,’ one user joked. Others simply crowned them a ‘Power couple,’ marveling at the ‘generational athlete’ potential of future offspring. The silence from both camps, however, remains deafening.
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