USC Women's Basketball: JuJu Watkins Reveals How Trojans Legend Cheryl Miller Inspired Team
USC women's basketball got a massive 73-65 win when they took down the previously No. 2 UCLA Bruins on Sunday. The Trojans had lost to the Bruins earlier in the season -- when UCLA got a 71-64 win in December -- but rebounded this time with a victory over their biggest rivals. Not only did the Trojans hand UCLA their first loss, but dropped the Bruins to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 rankings.
USC freshman JuJu Watkins was one of the top women's basketball recruits before joining the Trojans this season. Watkins is an emerging star in her own right, and she shared what it meant for Cheryl Miller to visit the team.
"Here, it’s really a sisterhood, the Trojan legacy is really important," Watkins said. "Players like Cheryl Miller — literally the GOAT — for her to come in and address the team meant a lot to us."
Beyond the significance of the win for the Trojans for this season, the presence of USC legend Cheryl Miller made the victory extra special. Miller played for the Trojans from 1982-1986, where she was a 2x NCAA champion and 3x Naismith Player of the Year during her college career. She also helped Team USA take gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
After her college hoops days ended, she remained involved with USC by serving as an assistant coach for five years before becoming the head coach from 1993 to 1995.
Miller's greatness extended far beyond just her accolades. She was the female basketball player to dunk in a game and was one of the most recruited female athletes of all time.
Having former stars like Miller not only inspires the team but also helps boost USC's overall legacy. It also can encourage players like Watkins to return to their school after she finishes her time at USC, which will only continue to build the Trojan legacy and program.
