Klutch Sports Founder and CEO Rich Paul recently revealed in an interview that Juju Watkins has signed the biggest shoe deal in the NBA or WNBA since Zion Williamson in 2019. Outside of LeBron James, Watkins is reportedly among the most significant players on the Klutch Sports roster.
“Our marketing number in terms of dollars made this year, LeBron excluded, was led by two women, which was actually pretty cool,” Paul said. “The numbers rolling in were led by A’Ja (Wilson) and Juju. One is an NIL.”
“The deal I just did for Juju is the largest footwear deal on the men’s or women’s side since probably Zion… She’s still in college, so it’s a pretty big deal.”
JuJu Watkins’ Shoe Deal Was Worth More Than Cooper Flagg
When Zion Williamson signed his deal with the Jordan brand in 2019, the seven-year, $75 million deal was reportedly one of the richest rookie deals ever.
That means Watkins’ shoe and apparel deal with Nike is worth significantly more than Cooper Flagg’s deal with New Balance, which was valued at a reported $13 million. Like Watkins, Flagg signed his deal with New Balance while playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and before he became the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
One of college basketball’s biggest stars, Watkins averaged 27.9 points per game as a freshman in 2023-24 and followed that up with a strong sophomore campaign while leading USC to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994. She averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, with seven 30-point games before getting hurt.
Prior to her injury, Watkins was rumored to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The USC star will likely miss her junior season while rehabbing a torn ACL that she suffered during the Trojans’ March Madness run.
Watkins’ Deal Is Proof That Women’s Sports Is On The Rise
For Nike, the investment in Watkins was about more than capitalizing on her current stardom. It was a calculated bet on a transcendent athlete who could redefine women’s basketball for a generation. Watkins is a rare mix of highlight-reel scorer, cultural icon, and brand-friendly personality, with a fan base that extends far beyond USC’s campus.
The timing is also telling.
Women’s basketball is in the midst of a cultural boom, driven in part by Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking college career and instant impact in the WNBA. Clark has shown that a women’s player can be both a national headline and a marketing juggernaut. With WNBA attendance and revenue set to reach all-time highs, brands are taking notice too.
Watkins represents the next wave, a player positioned to carry that momentum into the second half of the decade. If she returns at full strength, Watkins’ combination of on-court dominance and global marketability could make her the future face of women’s basketball.
