USC coach reveals how Caitlin Clark helped JuJu Watkins navigate stardom

In an Oct. 2 Associated Press (AP) article, Andrew Seligman quoted USC Trojans superstar JuJu Watkins as telling the media, “I wouldn’t really say pressure,” when asked if there there is some pressure to carry the torch for the former Iowa Hawkeyes. and current Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark when it comes to being the face of women’s college basketball.

“So many great teams in this league, and I think my main goal is to win with my team,” Watkins added. “And wherever it takes us, we’re grateful. I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

That same article quotes Watkins’ head coach at USC Lindsay Gottlieb as saying she “also reached out to Clark and plans to call former coach Lisa Bluder, who retired in May, for advice on how handling such an outstanding player.”

In an interview with NBC Sports that aired Friday, Gottlieb recounted the advice Clark gave him on navigating Watkins’ rise to fame.

“One of my biggest goals was to almost stay out of the way and let her in on her greatness,” Gottlieb said. “And when he did that his freshman year, now with that he’s getting a lot of attention.

“I reached out to Caitlin (Clark) and said, ‘How can I help JuJu with this?’

Asked what advice Clark gave him about managing Watkins’ stardom, Gottlieb said, “He said he had that level of attention for a year and a half, and he said JuJu will have it for three years”.

Gottlieb then said Clark added, “Let me go through the WNBA season, take a break and ask me specifically what she would do herself and what she would do differently.”

It’s great to hear how willing Clark was to give Gottlieb advice to make sure Watkins’ inevitable rise to superstardom goes as smoothly as it can.