"He's been like a little light in my life": JuJu Watkins introduces her fans to her "handsome" Frenchie
USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins showed off another side of her off the court as she introduced her fans to her pet French bulldog. Watkins was featured in GQ's popular "Essentials" videos, where she revealed 10 essential things she needs in her everyday life on Thursday on Instagram.
"This is Duece. He just gives Duece, honestly. I just thought it was a good name for him. I got him, like, a couple months ago, and he's just been, like, a little light in my life. He's just so handsome, too. So, he's just a great addition to the Watkins family."
Watkins continued to speak about Deuce's training and how she now loves Frenchies.
"We're still working on his training, clearly. ... He only works for food, also," Watkins said. "My first Frenchie. I'm honestly a Frenchie girl now. Like, my whole Instagram is, like, Frenchie. He's really affectionate. I love that. I love that in dogs. Always gives me kisses, even when I'm mad at him for probably peeing on the floor."
JuJu Watkins and USC to take on Paige Bueckers and UConn in Elite Eight rematch
Two powerhouse women’s college basketball teams – and two of the best young stars in the game – will play one another on Saturday as JuJu Watkins and No. 7 USC (10-1) head to Hartford, Connecticut, to play Paige Bueckers and No. 4 UConn (10-1).
The game acts as a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Tournament regional final. In a tightly contested Elite Eight matchup, UConn edged out USC 80-73 to advance to the Final Four.
That loss marked the end of JuJu Watkins’ incredible freshman season. She averaged 27.1 points per game throughout the year and scored 29 in the UConn matchup. While the unanimous All-American collected numerous postseason honors, missing the Final Four clearly left a lasting impact on her.
"She was very emotional," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Watkins after the game. "She was crying, like all competitors. She put her heart and soul into this. I just reminded her, 'You had an amazing year. Your team wouldn't be here without you.'"
The intense emotions from that fierce battle only add to the excitement for Saturday's game. The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET.