March Madness is done. The Unrivaled showcase has faded. Now, the WNBA steps into the spotlight. Clark’s logo threes. Angel Reese’s polarizing postgame. Sabrina and Stewie are building dynasties. But beneath the league’s rising tide lies another storyline bubbling—Paige Bueckers may be crowned, but her throne is far from safe. Because two names, JuJu Watkins and Sarah Strong, are already circling as future queens of the court.
And a draft-day dilemma no GM wants to face is starting to feel inevitable.
When JuJu Watkins went down in a gritty battle against Mississippi State, college basketball collectively held its breath. What was supposed to be a defining USC-UConn showdown in the Elite Eight was ripped away. Suddenly, the narrative shifted from matchup magic to uncertainty—What now?
The speculation kicked off fast. JuJu’s injury, reported as a torn ACL after USC’s March 24 win, has everyone wondering about her next move. Recovery usually takes 9 to 12 months—think Rori Harmon bouncing back in 10 months or Charlisse Leger-Walker taking a full year to be safe. If JuJu sits out next season to heal up right, she could play two more years at USC, landing her in the 2028 WNBA Draft. And that’s where things get wild, because Sarah Strong would be right there with her.
The speculation didn’t take long to start. “There’s a world where JuJu Watkins decides to sit out the upcoming season, using both of her final years of eligibility, and enters the 2028 WNBA Draft that features Sarah Strong,” wrote I Talk Hoops on X. “If you were a GM with the No. 1 overall pick, who would you choose?”
There’s a world where JuJu Watkins decides to sit out the upcoming season, using both of her final years of eligibility, and enters the 2028 WNBA Draft that features Sarah Strong.
If you were a GM with the No. 1 overall pick, who would you choose? pic.twitter.com/AUixhKz3oc
— I talk hoops (@trendyhoopstars) April 11, 2025
That single tweet cracked open a question that’s haunted fans ever since. Because if JuJu delays her entry until 2028, it means she’ll land in the same class as Sarah Strong. And that changes everything.
Clash for the Crown: JuJu vs. Sarah in the Battle for No. 1
“Depends on what Sarah Strong becomes… we already know what JuJu is.” That was one fan’s take on the Sarah Strong vs. JuJu Watkins debate, and while the sentiment reflects JuJu’s established stardom, it might be selling Sarah Strong short.
Because what has Sarah Strong already become? For starters, she’s the WBCA National Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-Big East, and Big East Freshman of the Year. She dropped 24 points in the NCAA championship game against South Carolina. With 114 total points, she now holds the record for most points by a freshman in a single NCAA tournament.
In the postseason, Strong averaged 19 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2 blocks per game—all while sharing the floor with elite scorers like Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers. She didn’t just hold her own—she dominated.
Nov 7, 2024; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) returns the ball against Boston University Terriers guard Bella McLaughlin (12) in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Another fan wrote, “I’m leaning toward Sarah but there is no wrong answer. Really, it depends on the needs of the team. For efficiency—Sarah. Dawg? JuJu.”
Let’s look at the numbers. Strong shot 64.4% from the field and 50% from three in the postseason. In her full 2024–25 campaign, she averaged 16.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 3.4 APG on 58.4% shooting, including 37.9% from beyond the arc. That’s elite production with elite efficiency.
JuJu Watkins, on the other hand, is a walking bucket with a scorer’s mindset. She shot 41.2% from the field and 32.2% from three this season—less efficient but undeniably explosive. As NBA star DeMar DeRozan put it: “We’ve seen the Caitlin Clarks, but I think JuJu Watkins is going to challenge all of those young ladies to another level because she got that dawg in her.”
DeRozan’s mentorship this offseason spoke volumes. Though he kept the details private, Watkins shared her appreciation: “He’s so smart. I never realized how many layers of the game he has in his mind. He is always one step ahead of his defense.”
Watkins is poised to rise even higher—but an unfortunate injury may delay that trajectory.
One fan summed it up with a surprisingly fitting NBA analogy: “I’m taking Tim Duncan over T-Mac.” Sarah Strong is Duncan-like—methodical, efficient, and fundamentally sound. She doesn’t need flash; she gets it done with precision and purpose. Her numbers back it up: 16 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 57.5% shooting. Quietly dominant. Relentlessly reliable.
JuJu, though? She’s Tracy McGrady. A human highlight reel. Bold. Electric. Capable of scoring in bunches. You give her the ball when the shot clock’s dying and you need a miracle. And sure, the efficiency isn’t always there—but the ceiling is.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 23: USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins 12 dribbles up the court during the women s college basketball game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the USC Trojans on February 23, 2025 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 23 Women s – Illinois at USC EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250224051
One fan captured it perfectly: “Sarah Strong. Versatile. Scores at all 3 levels. Finishes at an amazing clip. IQ off the charts. Affects the game like not many other players.”
That’s not just Twitter talk. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley praised her midseason, saying:
“The (basketball) IQ is off the charts. The skill set—off the charts. Big play after big play after big play.”
Strong had a double-double in that mid-February matchup against Staley’s Gamecocks, tallying 16 points and 13 rebounds. She now holds UConn’s freshman records for most rebounds (341) and second-most assists (137). Teammate Paige Bueckers put it simply: “The foundation she’s laid as a freshman is unreal. The fact that she’s going to get better is extremely scary.”
Staley even added, “In the next three years, she might be the best player to come out of UConn.” That’s no small praise in a program that produced Breanna Stewart.
And then there’s the uncertainty around Watkins. One fan chimed in, “If wise, she’ll sit out next season, then play one year and go pro. Injuries are the only thing keeping her from legend.” That fear isn’t unfounded. While USC hasn’t confirmed the exact natureof her injury, it’s expected to be a torn ACL—an injury that reshaped the careers of players like Azzi Fudd. Recovery times vary: some, like Rori Harmon, returned in 10 months; others, like Charlisse Leger-Walker, needed a redshirt season.
If Watkins follows the average timeline, she might return late in the 2025–26 season. But returning mid-season brings its own set of challenges—team chemistry, postseason pressure, and long-term health risks.
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