"Dual sport athletes": USC's JuJu Watkins reacts to seeing herself and teammates play volleyball

JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans are preparing for the 2024-25 college season. Amid the practice sessions, the team took a break to try their hand at volleyball. USC fifth-year senior Dominique Darius posted a video on Saturday with the caption:

"Y’all think we can switch sports? 😂😩"

JuJu Watkins reshared the video on her Instagram story and added:

"Dual sport athletes 😏"

Watkins' story (Credits: Instagram/@jujuballin)

The Trojans shifted from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten this summer. With it being the former home of college sensation Caitlin Clark, this moment seems like passing the torch, as JuJu Watkins was set to take over as the face of the sport after the former Iowa Hawkeye.

When asked if there was any pressure, the sophomore guard replied:

“I wouldn’t really say pressure. So many great teams in this league, and I think my main focus is just winning with my team. And wherever that takes us, we’re grateful. I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

JuJu Watkins shares a review of her growth over the offseason

During the USC Trojans' run to the historic Elite Eight appearance last season, JuJu Watkins averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks. After their loss to UConn, Watkins promised to get back to the gym and improve her performance.

The guard followed through as she posted videos of her practice sessions on Instagram. When asked about her growth, Watkins said:

"I think the biggest thing is just becoming a smarter player all around. I'm lucky that I had that experience my first year, so now I kind of know what to expect. Got my feet wet a little bit, so just in terms of IQ, I've definitely grown; I'm seeing the results in the work I put in over the summer.

"Getting to know my teammates a little bit more—about where they like the ball and what not—so that I'm able to kind of control the floor. And I think the biggest thing for me is definitely efficiency, something that I definitely could have worked on or have worked on. So just excited to see how this year turns out."

Watkins will not be alone in the pursuit of the title this season as the Trojans added Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen, two seniors with ample postseason experience, to the roster. USC will begin its new season against Ole Miss on Nov. 4.

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