USC’s JuJu Watkins became the first NCAA athlete to directly invest in a professional women’s sports team after her investment in the NWSL’s Boston Legacy.
Watkins adds her name to an impressive list of athletes who have invested in Boston’s professional women’s soccer team, including Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston, who moved to New England when she was 12 and was a three-time Massachusetts Player of the Year at Worcester Academy. The group also includes Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Massachusetts native and Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman and actress and director Elizabeth Banks.
While Watkins is not a Massachusetts native, her investment is trailblazing in women’s and college sports.
Watkins’ investment comes amid her recovery from a torn ACL, which she suffered in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament against Mississippi State. She announced recently that she’d miss the entire 2025-26 season.
When Watkins is healthy, she makes an impact both on and off the court. Watkins won the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, the John R. Wooden Award, and the AP Player of the Year Award and led her team to a Big Ten Championship. The Lady Trojan guard also averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in her sophomore season.
Despite not being expected to play this season, Watkins is one of the most popular athletes in college sports. She appears in commercials for AT&T and State Farm, has her own docuseries on NBC Sports, and has one of the most lucrative shoe deals with Nike. Watkins was the first women’s college athlete to sign an exclusive deal with Fanatics, among others; her NIL deals are worth an estimated $765,000.
Watkins’ partnership with the Boston Legacy stems from a desire to continue the growth of women’s sports.
“Boston Legacy FC is creating a space for women to achieve, lead, and inspire others at the highest level,” Watkins said. “I’m proud to be part of the movement pushing women’s sports forward.”
The NWSL returns to the region for the first time since 2017 and will play at Gillette Stadium the same stadium the New England Patriots play in for the first time since 2013.
The Legacy joins the Denver Summit as the newest expansion franchise in the NWSL. The Legacy will begin its 17-game season at home on March 14.