JuJu Watkins isn’t waiting for anyone’s permission — she’s rewriting the rules in real time. The USC basketball superstar just became the first college athlete in history to invest in a professional women’s team, officially joining the ownership group of Boston Legacy FC, a new franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League.
At just 20 years old, Watkins has already changed the game — again. Her move puts her alongside a powerful generation of young Black athletes who are no longer content with influence on the court or field — they’re now claiming seats in the boardroom.
“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.”
It’s not just a symbolic gesture — it’s a seismic cultural shift. Watkins joins an elite and growing circle of Black athlete-owners who are reshaping what power and equity look like in modern sports.
Angel Reese, star of the Chicago Sky, made headlines earlier this year when she joined the ownership group of DC Power Football Club, a new women’s soccer team competing in the USL Super League. Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and current quarterback of the Chicago Bears, invested in Bay FC of the NWSL. And Aaliyah Boston, the Indiana Fever’s Rookie of the Year and one of the league’s most promising talents, is already part of the Boston Legacy FC group — the same team Watkins has now joined.
Together, they represent a new era: one where Black athletes aren’t just symbols of excellence — they’re becoming architects of the industry itself.
For Watkins, the timing couldn’t be more meaningful. She’s currently rehabbing from a torn ACL, sidelined from the basketball spotlight. Yet instead of letting injury slow her down, she’s expanded her influence — stepping into the world of ownership before even turning pro. It’s an unprecedented move that showcases how NIL rights (Name, Image, and Likeness) have transformed the modern athlete’s reach and financial power.
With women’s sports experiencing historic growth — from surging attendance numbers to multimillion-dollar media deals — Watkins’ decision to invest is both strategic and symbolic. She’s betting on women’s sports, on herself, and on the power of representation.
For decades, Black athletes have dominated between the lines — but ownership remained a locked door. Now, a new wave is breaking that barrier. What started with trailblazers like Michael Jordan and Serena Williams is evolving into a collective movement among a younger, socially conscious generation determined to build wealth, influence, and equity that lasts.
Watkins’ move also carries deeper meaning within the Black community, where conversations about generational wealth, visibility, and access have taken center stage. Her decision sends a clear message to young athletes everywhere: you don’t have to wait to lead. You don’t have to be drafted to make an impact.
It’s a message amplified by her peers — Reese, Williams, and Boston — who are proving that the future of sports leadership is diverse, dynamic, and unapologetically ambitious. Together, they’re dismantling the old idea that athletes are simply performers; they’re entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and cultural leaders shaping the next era of global sports.
JuJu Watkins may still be a college sophomore, but her influence is already stretching far beyond the scoreboard. With this historic step, she’s not just changing her own story — she’s redefining what’s possible for every young Black athlete who dares to dream bigger than the game itself.
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