Jeremy Beren Tue, October 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why JuJu Watkins to the Comets would mark 'full circle moment' for USC star originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Even after missing the 2025-26 season through injury, USC Trojans star JuJu Watkins hasn't seen her stock dip one bit.
Watkins, who missed 580 days and an entire season of basketball due to an ACL tear, is still projected to go first overall in the loaded 2027 WNBA Draft come April.
The USC guard -- as dominant a scorer as she is a defender -- should be the face of whichever franchise is fortunate enough to draft her at number one. That is assuming, of course, she puts together a junior year requisite with her talent.
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Though the draft lottery is yet to be held, the Houston Comets and the Toronto Tempo have joint-best odds for the first pick. If Watkins were to land in Houston, in the franchise's return to Texas following relocation from Connecticut, it would represent a "full-circle moment," according to ESPN's Michael Voepel .
"When the franchise launched in 1997, another USC guard -- Cynthia Cooper -- was the star. And there are similarities in their games, too, as Watkins is a taller version of the smooth-scoring Cooper," Voepel wrote in his mock draft. "Even though it's sad to see Connecticut lose its team, the Comets' return is special for the WNBA. Having Watkins as the new face of the franchise would mean a lot."
For the rebuilding Comets, building out the backcourt with Watkins and Leila Lacan would represent a superb foundation for 2027 and beyond.
It all will depend on how the lottery balls bounce, but Watkins' combination of size, length and scoring ability would make her the ideal face of the Comets' rebirth.
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Source: Sports
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