JuJu Watkins, Paige Bueckers lead preseason All-Americans

Field Level Media|published: Tue 22nd October, 14:17 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Portland, OR, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) drives to the basket during the second half against UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) in the finals of the Portland Regional of the NCAA Tournament at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Southern California's JuJu Watkins and UConn's Paige Bueckers anchor the preseason women's college basketball All-American team released Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Both were unanimous choices by the 30-member media panel. They were joined by Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Madison Booker of Texas and Watkins' Trojans teammate Kiki Iriafen.

Watkins, Hidalgo and Booker are all sophomores. Iriafen and Bueckers, a preseason honoree for the third time, are both seniors.

Iriafen, a transfer to USC from Stanford, and Watkins are the first teammates to make the AP preseason squad since UConn produced three of the five players selected in 2017-18.

"Kiki came because she wanted to play with JuJu, who recruited her because she wanted to play with Kiki," Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "It's exciting to see their personalities mesh."

Watkins averaged 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks in 34 starts as a USC freshman in 2023-24. Bueckers led the Huskies last season with 21.9 points to go with 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks in 39 starts.

--Field Level Media