Sophomore standout JuJu Watkins adds to her long list of accomplishments — she is now the first active NCAA athlete to have her own Funko Pop. Her Funko Pop is titled “Watkins’ Pop!” and will ship to fans who order in April 2025. The Funko Pop is available for preorder until November 27.
Funko Pops are collectible vinyl figurines of characters from pop culture, movies and real life.
The JuJu Watkins Funko Pop wears a white jersey, signature necklace, and bun with edges to hug the forehead. Watkins has also signed 25 of the figures and those who pre-order the Funko Pop will have a chance at winning one.
“I look so cute!” Watkins said in an interview with Funko Pop. “The bun is perfect. I wish my bun looked this good all the time.”
This is not the first major brand deal Watkins has made. In October, she signed a multiyear contract extension with Nike. This was one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women’s basketball, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. She first signed with Nike as a high school senior in October 2022.
This year, Watkins became the third college basketball player to sign an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal with Gatorade. Part of her deal includes appearing in Gatorade marketing campaigns and helping with the Gatorade Player of the Year Program. Watkins won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2023. The other two basketball players to sign deals with Gatorade are Paige Bueckers from UConn and former Iowa Hawkeye Caitlin Clark now with the Indiana Fever.
Watkins has formed partnerships with Cash App, Taco Bell, Celsius, NYX Professional Makeup, Lids and Fletcher Jones Motorcars. She has also signed NIL deals with Instagram and AT&T.
In the last year, Watkins has gained several accolades. In her 2023-2024 campaign, Watkins earned ESPN Freshman of the Year, ESPN National Player of the Year Runner-up, The Athletic National Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, among others.