TAMPA (April 2, 2025) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today that USC’s JuJu Watkins has won the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, honoring her as the most outstanding women’s college basketball player. She becomes the 10th woman in the history of the Naismith Trophy to win the award at both the collegiate and high school levels, as she won the prep trophy in 2023.
UCLA’s Cori Close was named the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year, while one of her players, Lauren Betts, earned the 2025 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE.
“JuJu’s exceptional prowess, Cori’s unwavering guidance, and Lauren’s relentless defensive prowess mean each is worthy of this year’s Naismith awards,” said Eric Oberman, President of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Their outstanding achievements have rightfully earned them the most esteemed accolades in college basketball. We take great pride in acknowledging their unshakeable commitment and remarkable abilities.”
Watkins is the third USC player to win a now total of five Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophies, following Lisa Leslie (1994) and Cheryl Miller (1984-86). She is the third consecutive Big Ten player to win the award after Iowa’s Caitlin Clark won the previous two seasons. It is also the fourth time in the last seven years a player from the conference has won the award, as Iowa’s Megan Gustafson won in 2019.
The sophomore joins an exclusive list of 10 women who have won the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy at the collegiate and prep levels. The others include Tamika Catchings (Tennessee), Paige Bueckers (UConn), Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee), Lisa Leslie (USC), Maya Moore (UConn), Candace Parker (Tennessee), Diana Taurasi (UConn), Breanna Stewart (UConn) and A’ja Wilson (South Carolina).
The other finalists were Betts, Bueckers, and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hildalgo.
About the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year JuJu Watkins:
- Named the Big 10 Player of the Year, becoming the first USC player to be honored as a conference POY since Cherie Nelson in 1988.
- Named to the conference’s All-Defensive team.
- Finalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE.
- Averaging 23.9 points per game, which is sixth in the nation.
- She has 1,709 career points, ranking ninth in all-time in scoring at USC.
“We at Jersey Mike’s extend our congratulations to JuJu Watkins for her phenomenal accomplishment as the 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s Player of the Year,” said Jeff Hemschoot, Vice President of Marketing at Jersey Mike’s. “Her extraordinary talent and significant influence on the court are unparalleled, and we are thrilled to honor her exceptional achievements with this prestigious recognition.”
UCLA’s Cori Close is the 2025 Werner Ladder Women’s Coach of the Year award. She becomes the first female coach from UCLA to win a Naismith Award (four players and one coach have combined for seven men’s awards). The other 2025 finalists were Mark Campbell from TCU, Southern California’s Lindsay Gottlieb and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.
About 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year Cori Close:
- Led the Bruins to a 34-2 record and Final Four berth for the first time in school history, setting a program record for wins and achieving the first 30-win season in school history.
- The team won the Big 10 Tournament for the program’s first conference title since 2006.
- She led her team to 23 consecutive wins, 22 of which came by double-digits.
- UCLA was ranked No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks, setting a Big Ten record after nine weeks atop the rankings.
- The Bruins are the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m not at a loss for words often, but I am about the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award,” said Close. “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 the comparison to the work we do to help teach, mentor and equip for life beyond the hardwood.”
“Werner Ladder congratulates Coach Close for her steadfast commitment and exceptional leadership throughout the season, which has earned her this well-deserved recognition,” said Stacy Gardella, Head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at ProDriven Brands. “We are honored to present this award, celebrating excellence in collegiate coaching, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her for guiding UCLA women’s basketball through this historic and remarkable season.”
Betts is the winner of the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE, becoming the first UCLA women’s player from UCLA to win a Naismith Award. The junior is the first player to win the award from the Big 10 in its eight-year history. This is the fourth time in these eight years that the women’s Coach and Defensive Player of the Year are from the same school. South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston won the awards in 2022 and 2023 while Vic Schaefer and Teaira McCowan from Mississippi State won in 2018. The other finalists were Hildalgo, West Virginia’s JJ Quinerly and Watkins from USC.
About 2025 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Lauren Betts:
- The Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection.
- Fifth in the nation in blocked shots at 3.0 per game.
- Her 99 blocked shots is a UCLA single-season record, shattering the old mark of 66.
- She is only the second Bruin in school history to register 600+ points and 300+ rebounds in a season (Denise Curry, 1979-81).
- Set a UCLA record with nine blocks vs. Baylor on Jan. 20.
“To even be up for an award like this is really meaningful to me,” said Betts. “Defense is something I’ve always taken a lot of pride in. Going into every single game, that’s honestly my biggest priority – how can I stop the person in front of me? But it’s truly appreciated to be receiving the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award presented by MOLECULE.”
“MOLECULE is delighted to celebrate Lauren Betts for her phenomenal season, which has earned her this distinguished recognition,” said Kevin Blossom, SVP and General Manager of MOLECULE. “Lauren’s record-breaking performances and commitment to excellence on the court showcase her extraordinary talent and dedication. We are proud to honor her achievements.”
WERNER LADDER NAISMITH COACH OF THE YEAR | JERSEY MIKE’S NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Watkins and Close were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s national voting academy, comprised of leading media members from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom based their selections on outstanding on-court performances during the 2024-25 college basketball season. Additionally, fans had the opportunity to cast a ballot through naismithfanvote.com and on the @NaismithTrophy, NCAA @MarchMadnessMBB and @MarchMadnessWBB Twitter pages, which accounted for 5% of the overall vote. The vote was tabulated and verified by the Forensic Accounting team of iDiscovery Solutions, Inc., a consultative experts firm. The Player of the Year winner will be awarded the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, produced and provided by Herff Jones, a leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones will donate a replica trophy to the player’s university.
NAISMITH DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The Atlanta Tipoff Club’s board of selectors, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, selected the winner, basing their selections on outstanding on-court defensive performances during the 2024-25 college basketball season. This award was part of the naismithfanvote.com for the first time this year. For more information about the Naismith Awards, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
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Media Contact:
Mallory Hadaway
Atlanta Tipoff Club
mallory.hadaway@naismithtrophy.com
(256) 682-0599
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UC A’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s, MOLECULE, Sharpie and Werner Ladder. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
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ABOUT WERNER LADDER COMPANY
Werner, the official ladder of NCAA® March Madness® and the world leader in ladders, offers a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, Werner provides a full line of climbing equipment that’s engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.
ABOUT MOLECULE
MOLECULE, a premier performance sleep company, designs products that are Air-Engineered™ for cooler sleep, helping people achieve optimal rest and recovery so they can maximize performance in their active lifestyles. Developed by a team of renowned sleep scientists, neurologists and engineers, MOLECULE products are trusted by elite athletes such as Alex Morgan and Michael Phelps. MOLECULE products are designed in the USA and are delivered directly to your door with free shipping and risk-free trials. For more information, visit us at http://www.onmolecule.com/