While she won’t be lacing up her Nikes this season, JuJu Watkins is still making major moves off the court joining the investor group for NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC.
In doing so, Watkins becomes the first NCAA athlete to directly invest in a professional women’s sports team, breaking new ground in a venture that includes an impressive roster of fellow investors.
Former USC Trojan and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is part of the ownership group along with Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston and Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman.
Just before tip-off of USC women’s basketball’s season opener on Tuesday night, Watkins added another honor to her growing collection: the 2025 John R. Wooden award. The accolade joins an already stellar resume that includes a Big Ten regular season championship as a sophomore, Naismith College Player of the Year and AP Player of the Year.
At just 20 years old, Watkins’ investment signals a new era of athlete empowerment—where college stars leverage their platform and NIL earnings to build equity in professional sports, rather than simply endorsing products. It’s a strategic bet on the future of women’s sport and builds on her own legacy beyond the hardwood.
Boston Legacy FC will kick off its inaugural NWSL season on March 14, 2026, with a home opener one day after the league begins play on March 13th. The team joins Denver Summit FC as part of the league’s expansion to 16 teams.