The women’s college basketball honors are piling up in Los Angeles. And in a season cut short by a devastating knee injury, USC’s JuJu Watkins did more than enough to garner national acclaim. The 6-foot-2 sophomore guard was named the Naismith Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year on W ednesday, becoming the first Trojan to earn the honor since Lisa Leslie in 1994. Before Leslie, Cheryl Miller was a three-time Naismith Award recipient. “This is truly special. I feel so blessed to be selected amongst some of the best in the game,” Watkins said in a video. “I want to thank my teammates, coaches and the staff at SC for making this all possible. To my family, friends, the fans, your love and support means the world to me. This is just the beginning and I can’t wait for what’s ahead.” Watkins averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game in leading the Trojans to a 31-4 record and Big Ten Conference regular-season championship. Among the highlights were a victory over UConn in December and two triumphs over crosstown rival UCLA. Those teams came back to haunt USC, with UCLA knocking off USC for the Big Ten Tournament title and UConn ending the Trojans’ season Monday in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, albeit without Watkins after she tore her ACL in a second-round game. UCLA’s Lauren Betts was named Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year after the 6-foot-7 center led the Bruins with 20.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. “Defense is something I’ve always taken a lot of pride in,” Betts said in a statement. “Going into every single game, that’s honestly my biggest priority – how can I stop the person in front of me? But to even be up for an award like this is really meaningful to me, it’s truly appreciated.” The junior leads the top-seeded Bruins (34-2) into Friday’s Final Four matchup against second-seeded UConn (35-3) in Tampa. It is the first NCAA Final Four appearance for the Bruins and Cori Close, who was named Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year. In her 14th season in Westwood, Close oversaw a program that spent 14 weeks as the top team in the Associated Press Top 25. “I’m not at a loss for words often, but I am about this award,” Close said in a statement. “I’m humbled and grateful. It’s most meaningful because it gives me a chance to thank each player, staff member, role model and mentor. May our work in the win-and-loss columns always pale in comparison to the work we do to help teach, mentor and equip for life beyond the hardwood.” Close’s Bruins led the Big Ten in rebounds (42.9) and assists (20.4) per game, as well as field-goal percentage (48.2%), field-goal percentage defense (35.2%) and scoring defense (57.9 points per game). Related Articles Inland college notes: Magpayo sees similarities between UCR and Fordham Rashaun Agee, USC crush Tulane in College Basketball Crown opener Swanson: Without JuJu Watkins, USC falls to UConn in Elite Eight USC women see Final Four dreams dashed by Paige Bueckers, UConn again Bent Leuchten fulfills his potential, leads UC Irvine into NIT semifinals ...read more read less