JuJu Watkins showed up for practice on Friday with the Southern California women’s basketball team looking less prepared than usual for their upcoming NCAA Tournament game. Her hair was styled in a simple low bun instead of her usual perfect high bun worn on game days. The transformation will happen before the top-seeded Trojans face UNC Greensboro on Saturday at the Galen Center. Watkins, a standout sophomore, is known for her signature bun and shared that she feels she plays better with it.
As a first-team All-American, the 19-year-old Watkins is aiming to lead USC to their first national title since 1984. She is averaging impressive stats and has showcased her skills on the court, including a standout performance with eight blocks against UCLA. Despite excelling in basketball, her mother, Sari, jokingly rates her hairstyling skills at a “strong four out of ten,” handling the intricate bun creation before each game.
Sari Watkins takes pride in perfecting her daughter’s bun, ensuring that the energy and effort put into styling her hair reflects JuJu’s character on the court. The duo shares a special bond during these styling sessions, with Sari challenging herself to create the perfect bun every time. While the secret behind the bun remains undisclosed, JuJu hinted at potential future revelations about their hair routine.
The iconic high bun has become synonymous with JuJu’s on-court presence, with fans often associating her with the “JuJu bun.” Despite experimenting with different hairstyles off the court, including braids and ponytails, the high bun remains her go-to look for game days. JuJu has embraced the attention surrounding her hairstyle, even playfully responding to questions about her bun during media interactions. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb acknowledged the significance of JuJu’s bun, noting the attention it attracts both on and off the court.
“How did this tradition start?” she pondered.“I think it began in high school. I used to sport a puff back then,” she recalled.The second question at the press conference, thanks to USA TODAY Sports, focused on the significance of the ritual with her mom and the bonding experience, or perhaps the hair itself, and if it holds any power or boosts her confidence.“Absolutely. It’s a special time for us to discuss the game and other things,” Watkins explained. “I truly cherish those moments. It’s a unique bond between me and my mom.”Kayla Padilla, a graduate student guard from last year’s team, commended Watkins’ flawless gameday bun. “Everyone noticed that it was always immaculate and never out of place.”However, there was a mishap during USC’s game against UCLA in Watkins’ freshman year. “I was seated in the front row and one of the UCLA players accidentally dislodged her bun while she was on the bench,” recalled Sari Watkins, JuJu’s mom. “I rushed in, fixed her hair, and tied the bun so she could focus on the game.”Despite her mom’s quick fix, USC ended up losing to UCLA, highlighting JuJu’s superstition about her bun. “She’s really particular about it,” Sari Watkins remarked.Watkins seems to guard her bun fiercely. A video clip shows her evading her teammates with water bottles during a celebration to shield her bun from getting wet.“Everyone is mindful of each other’s hair. Feeling good about how they look boosts their confidence,” noted Gottlieb, emphasizing the importance of appearance for the players.Watkins, a guard for South California Trojans, is known for her ‘superpower’ bun, according to McKayla Williams, a senior who captained the varsity team when Watkins first joined.”She was always humble, unlike most hyped-up players. We spent a lot of time together off the court, doing our hair in the bathroom,” Williams reminisced.Vanessa Nygaard, Watkins’ former coach at Windward School, shared a quirky memory of her dressing up as Snoop Dogg for Halloween, ditching her usual bun for the occasion.The bun took a backseat when Watkins transferred to Sierra Canyon for her junior year, where Alicia Komaki, the head coach, led her to win multiple titles.“That bun truly holds power,” Komaki acknowledged.Now, the fate of the Trojans seems intertwined with the fate of JuJu’s iconic bun.
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