JuJu Watkins might not be playing basketball this season, but the USC superstar is still making big moves off the court.
The junior Trojans guard — who is sidelined for the year after tearing her ACL in last season’s NCAA Tournament — has parlayed her NIL earnings into becoming part of an ownership group of a pro sports team. Boston Legacy FC, an expansion side in the National Women’s Soccer League, announced Watkins was part of its investor group earlier this week.
According to Sportico, Watkins’ investment is a historic one, as it makes her the first athlete to invest directly into a women’s professional sports team while still participating in college athletics.
“JuJu’s investment marks a groundbreaking moment for women’s sports and the power of NIL,” Boston Legacy owner Jennifer Epstein told ESPN. “As the first college athlete to directly invest in a women’s professional sports team, she’s showing that today’s student-athletes aren’t just building their own brands — they’re shaping the future of the game.
Watkins joins an impressive list of notable investors into the NWSL’s Boston franchise, which includes actress Elizabeth Banks, Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens. The club will begin play in the NWSL’s 2026 season.
“Boston Legacy FC is creating a space for women to achieve, lead and inspire others at the highest level,” Watkins said in a statement. “I’m proud to be part of the movement pushing women’s sports forward.”
Last season, Watkins was the consensus National Player of the Year after averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, leading USC to a regular season Big Ten title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 20-year-old, 6-foot-2 guard from Los Angeles won the Wooden, Naismith, USBWA and AP Player of the Year awards, and was a first-team All-American for the second consecutive season.
As she has blossomed into one of women’s college basketball’s biggest stars, Watkins has inked NIL deals with companies and brands like AT&T, Celsius, Gatorade, Nike, State Farm, NerdWallet, Fanatics, United Airlines, and Funko. Watkins is also an investor in the professional 3×3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled and has an NIL deal with it as well.
Watkins is expected to return to the court for USC’s 2026-27 season. She’ll have a year of college eligibility left beyond that, but will also be eligible for the WNBA Draft in 2027 because she turns 22 that year.
